Question

american chestnut trees used to be one of the most common trees in the eastern part of the united states. a fungus was introduced from another continent that sickened and killed nearly every chestnut tree in the country. an ecologist is trying to understand how certain trees resist the fungus, and how to get more fungus-resistant trees growing in the wild. this ecologist would be studying what type of ecology?

Answer 1

The ecologist would be studying ecology to understand tree resistance to the fungus and promote the growth of more resistant trees.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ecologist in this scenario would be studying ecology. Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. In this case, the ecologist is trying to understand how certain trees resist the fungus and how to promote the growth of more fungus-resistant trees in the wild.

Answer 2

The ecologist is studying disease ecology, which deals with the interactions between biodiversity and pathogens. This includes researching the mechanisms of disease resistance in trees like the American chestnut, impacted by Cryphonectria parasitica, and developing methods to promote the growth of resistant trees to restore affected ecosystems.

Step-by-step explanation:

An ecologist studying how certain trees resist a fungus and ways to propagate more fungus-resistant trees in the wild is focusing on a specific area of ecology known as disease ecology. Disease ecology is concerned with the interaction between the biodiversity of an ecosystem and the incidence of pathogens such as parasites or diseases. In the case of the American chestnut trees, which were devastated by the introduction of an Asian fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, the ecologist would study the impact of this fungus on the ecosystem, the resistance mechanisms some trees might have, and strategies for mitigating this ecological disruption by promoting the growth of resistant individuals.

In discussing disease ecology related to trees, it's particularly relevant to contrast the impact of the chestnut blight with another significant tree disease: Dutch elm disease. Dutch elm disease, caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi and spread by the elm bark beetle, similarly wreaked havoc on elm tree populations in North America. Understanding how trees like elms and chestnuts resist such diseases could not only help restore these important forest components but also preserve the associated biodiversity and maintain ecosystem function.