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Huffaker's Mite Experiment
In 1958, Carl Barton Huffaker, Carl B. Huffaker, an ecologist and agricultural entomologist at the University of California, Berkeley, did a series of experiments with predatory and herbivorous mite species to investigate predator–prey population dynamics. In these experiments, he created model universes with arrays of rubber balls and oranges (food for the herbivorous mites) on trays and then introduced the predator and prey mite species in various permutations. Specifically, Huffaker was seeking to understand how spatial heterogeneity and the varying dispersal ability of each species affected long-term population dynamics and survival. Contrary to previous experiments on this topic (especially those by Georgii Gause), he found that long-term coexistence was possible under select environmental conditions. He published his findings in the paper, "Experimental Studies on Predation: Dispersion Factors and Predator–Prey Oscillations". Experimental design The aim of Huffaker’s 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carl Barton Huffaker
Carl Barton Huffaker (September 30, 1914 in Monticello, Kentucky – October 10, 1995 in Lafayette, California) was an American biologist, ecologist and agricultural entomologist. Huffaker graduated from the University of Tennessee (1938 B.S., 1939 M.S.) then gaining a PhD from Ohio State University in 1942. Huffaker was one of the first entomologists to study the use of DDT to control mosquito populations. After working as a medical entomologist in Colombia, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic he was recruited by Harry Scott Smith in 1946 to work as an assistant entomologist for the Division of Biological Control of the University of California. Huffaker's first assignment was the control of Klamath weed, particularly the use of ''Chrysolina quadrigemina''. He remained at Berkeley until his retirement in 1984. He published more than 200 scientific papers and edited and contributed to books "citation classics" in population ecology, biological control, and integrated pest managemen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |