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I never gave much thought as to what Spanish Moss actually brought to the table. After some research, I found that it is much more than a home to little critters. One ecological concept at work here is commensalism in which the moss is provided with a simple home among tree branches while the tree itself is neither harmed nor receiving benefits. The moss takes in nutrients simply from rain, the sun and particles it can use from the surrounding air. The chiggers (little bugs) everyone associates with the plant are not as big of an issue as they may seem as it is said that they only make a home in the moss when it hits the ground. Despite the fact that this is a common plant found in this state and especially along the coast, I thought it was worth drawing attention to because of what the moss tells us about our local weather. While we can clearly tell when it's rainy or sunny, this plant acts as a natural indicator that deserves some appreciation! It is a great water retainer and enlarges as well as changes to a greener color when it is holding water to get itself through drier days to follow. When it is exposed to more sunlight than moisture, it shrinks back and loses the green tone. It is amazing how much you can learn from something that gets so easily overlooked!
Info from: mentalfloss.com/article/67807/10-things-you-should-know-a...
Remembering seeing these guys when you went to the park as a kid? I sure do, they used to always chase me around! Here is something you may not know: They have a controversial public opinion and must be kept under sharp watch by fish and wildlife.
One group of people believes them to be beautiful creatures, keeping a few as pets in their own backyard. The various insects they eat allow plants to grow unharmed, and there are many different species with varied diets to allow the garden owner to choose one that will (mostly) only eat the right things. For perhaps the most known argument, how can you beat free eggs? However, some people do not share the same feelings towards ducks. They focus on how they destroy agriculture by eating their way through the vegetation, and how their poop is an eyesore and a possible health hazard if not avoided carefully.
As interesting and mixed as public opinion is, the department of fish and wildlife has their own take on Anas platyrhynchos. They monitor the ducks populations carefully as overpopulation leads to habitat destruction, often resulting in crop loss for farmers. Also, overabundant ducks that live around a pond can kill off much of the life in the water, either by over eating the animals or pooping so much in the water that algae no longer have access to light, which reduces the total oxygen available to all organisms living in the water. Lastly, it is strongly recommended not to feed wild ducks. By doing so we encourage more ducks to come live where there is free food which leads to the overpopulation effects previously described. The next time you see a pack of mallards, please don't feed them as exceeding their carrying capacity can kill off entire species in an area!
Decomposition occurred to the corpse of this bear’s head that I found in the woods of Virginia on February 17, 2017. Decomposition is the process where non-living organic substances changes its arrangements or break down to smaller matter. Decomposition is a part of the nutrient cycle but in order for the plants to uptake the nutrients, they have to be released from the organic matter.
Decomposition takes place in three stages. Detritivores, small organisms that feed on dead organic matter, bacteria, and fungi are always required to break down the dead organic matter. The first active stage of decomposition is leaching by water. Leaching removes loose compounds like sugars and free amino acids. The second stage is fragmentation by animals. The surface are of the detritus for microbial colonization is made possible my animals like worms, rodents, and wood lice that assist in breaking down more loose fractions. The third stage of decomposition is chemical breakdown. Microbes break down compounds that are resistant to change. Without detritivores and decomposers, decomposition is nearly impossible. Eventually, mineralization occurs and organic matter material is transformed into inorganic material. Now, the nutrients are available for plants to use.
Sources:
aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/dont-bag-...
The conch is one of the fastest growing marine snails and feed on algae. The conch's shell grows in a spiral with ridges for protection and stabilization. They are considered adults after about 4 year and as the mantle (body) matures. Conchs are an important part of Bimini's economy as many of the islanders eat the snail as a snack or a meal. The species is not endangered in the Caribbean as a whole, but is commercially threatened in areas due to overfishing.
I was at the Ocoee Retreat Center near Ocoee Tennessee this past weekend and on Saturday February 25 I was walking around the lake there with a friend and noticed these frog eggs. I am not sure what type of frog laid them, but I did hear what sounded like a Bull Frog nearby. Frogs lay their eggs under water and can lay up to 20,000 at a time. The eggs are covered in a jelly-like substance by the female which causes the eggs to float to the surface. This may explain why I saw this patch of eggs along with several others on the same side of the lake, the far side from the direction the wind was blowing. Frogs and other amphibians are found near water sources because they need to live in and around water as part of their habitat. Bull Frogs sometimes travel from water source to water source and can hop six miles in a week. After the eggs hatch tadpoles emerge and live by swimming around and eating algae in their pond until they fully develop into a frog through the process of metamorphosis. During the process, the tadpoles develop lungs and legs. Depending on the type of frog species, the tadpoles might only take a few weeks to complete their metamorphosis or over a year.
April 8th I went with Dr. Snider's Food and the Environment class to Open Grounds Farm in Beaufort, North Carolina. While there we took a tour of the approximately 60,000 acre farm. It is the largest farm east of the Mississippi River. Our tour guide and Crop Production manager of the farm, Antonio, told us that since this farm is no till they do not release carbon dioxide into the air. Instead their soils retain so much carbon they have to adjust the amount of nitrogen in the soils to keep it viable. I would think this would be considered an abnormal sink sincw the carbon sits there and is stored for so long.
I took this video right outside my house on Brickle Ave, about a week or so before spring break. Filmed here are robins (Turdus migratorius) collecting berries off the ground that had fallen from trees (the species of which I couldn't identify). The main ecological concept demonstrated here is the concept of non-symbiotic mutualism. The trees depend on organisms like birds and squirrels to spread their seeds for the means of increasing their fitness, and in return, the trees' helpers are rewarded with a nutritious, fruity snack (the berry). Another fundamental ecological processes demonstrated in this video is the detritus cycle. We're seeing first stage of the cycle, in which organic matter, such as the berries and leaves, are deposited on the forest floor. This organic matter will then be processed and decomposed by an array of micro-organisms called detritivores, eventually becoming incorporated into the soil.
In this picture you can notice the lichen growing between the dense cover of moss.
Lichens are great example of symbiosis, because they consist of two different organisms. Lichens are made up of fungus and algae.
Through a mutualistic relationship both species are able to thrive.
The algae creates sugars through photosynthesis which are then picked up by the fungus and used for food, and in return the fungus provides an environment for the algae to live in.
The moss also plays an important role, because it provides a moist environment for the lichen to thrive in.
This mushroom ties into the lecture notes concerning organisms that can grow in typical or extreme climates. This one is interesting because it likes to grow in cooler weather vs warm weather since most fungi grow best in warm, moist places. They have evolved to grow in both temperatures.
I took this picture on Thursday the 26th after the rainfall at the beginning of last week. The puddle was outside of the track on campus here at UNCW. Some rain from a rainfall filtrates into the soil, falls on concrete, or falls directly into the water. The rain water that falls on the concrete and forms a puddle will evaporate rather quickly after the precipitation stops falling. The water will evaporate (the rate of evaporation depends on the external conditions) then condense in the atmosphere and precipitate in some form to result in a collection. The water cycle is the recycling of water between the atmosphere and Earth's surface. This puddle is just one step in the water cycle (the collection phase).
This is a photo of me on a shipwreck called Spiegel Grove, it's located off Key Largo. This photo shows some of the different marine life that has made the wreck their home. On the wreck there were sea squirts, and different sponges. Shipwrecks can serve as artificial reefs and like natural coral reefs, they face harmful anthropogenic impacts. Some environmental issues that put these ecosystems at risk would be pollution and careless tourism because of how fragile they are. Climate change would be another issue that affects how well a reef thrives. With rising temperatures, the water will get hotter and can eventually lead to coral bleaching. These reefs are hot spots for many organisms and can provide either food or shelter so it's very important to keep them alive and healthy!
For spring break I went back home to the mountains. I was young when my ecology-loving mom first told me about how hemlock trees would soon be driven to near extinction just like the American chestnut trees that used to dominate the forests in our area. I already feel like I have seen a dramatic change in the local population of hemlocks since then. The Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) pictured here was only about 2 feet tall and already infected by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), a fuzzy, white, aphid-like parasite. It was first reported in the Eastern US in 1951 after being introduced in 1924 from Japan, making it an invasive species recognized by the U.S. forest service. The woolly adelgid feeds on sap, and since it has no local predators, large numbers can prevent growth and completely desiccate a tree. Hemlock are a characteristic part of the understory in WNC forests, providing habitat and food for many species. Most of the treatments for woolly adelgid infestations involve chemical insecticides, which can't feasibly cover the entire population. Other more effective methods would be to introduce a natural predator of the woolly adelgid, like the beetle Laricobius nigrinus, which is native to western North America. While introducing new species can also produce an unpredictable effect, it may be the most hopeful way to save the hemlocks.
Sources:
Sometimes you may find patches of bubbles at the top of your fish bowl. My fish, Apollo, lives in this bowl and has his ways of communication. These bubbles mean he is claiming the tank as his territory (we have all heard how territorial betas can be). It is also a sign of wellness and reproductive health. These bubbles are considered nests made by males. The males lure females in while fending off other males and spawn. The eggs are captured in the bubbles and incubate the eggs/fry until the fish is ready to swim in hopes to find food.
There is also a golden mystery snail, Comet, in the tank that is really enjoying munching on the bubbles. I believe the relationship between Apollo and Comet is ES because they are not in direct contact and the resources can be used by anyone.
I was really excited to see the newly classified Asperitas cloud yesterday afternoon! The cloud has been spotted for decades, but was not officially recognized until this month, March 2017. They were named Asperitas after the Latin word, meaning roughness. As is usually noted with these Asperitas, storm clouds loomed nearby, but there was no actually precipitation from the Asperitas clouds. The clouds are very beautiful and look almost like rolling ocean waves.
Cloud coverage is extremely important to ecological processes. Periods of light and dark play a role in species development and behavior. It has been shown that cloud coverage at night, near urban areas mimics natural light; this amplification of light pollution could have huge impact on species eating habits, behavior and growth. It also strikes me that on beaches this could be particularly concerning as there is already an issue of sea turtles confusing artificial light for moonlight, putting the animals at risk. In this way, it is vital that ecologists have an understanding of cloud types and behavior and their influence in the biosphere.
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone...
This picture was taken on March 29th outside of Friday Hall. On our way to ecology lab, we almost stepped on this baby yellow bellied slider that was sitting in the middle of the sidewalk at the front entrance of Friday Hall. The yellow bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) is a subspecies of pond slider that can be found in coastal plains and piedmont regions of the southeastern US extending from Florida to southern Virginia. Yellow bellied sliders thrive in shallow water environments such as floodplain marshes, permanent ponds, and seasonal wetlands such as Carolina bays. This species of turtle can be spotted basking in the sun around the ponds on campus, but this baby was a great distance away from the ponds near the end of chancellors. More than likely, this little guy was living in the wetland near the greenhouse outside of Friday Hall or one of the Carolina Bays that surround Friday Hall. Due to their uniquely patterned carapace, especially during the juvenile stage, yellow bellied sliders are popular pets. As is common with many "exotic" pets though, they are released into ponds, lakes, and waterways by owners who no longer wish to take care of them. Once they become a non-indigenous introduced species, they can affect native turtle populations by competing for food and basking space. In addition, they will interbreed with native turtle populations compromising the genetic integrity of the native species, leading to hybridization. It is important for anyone who wishes to own an exotic pet to understand the ecological impacts their "pets" can cause when introduced into environments where they do not naturally occur.
I took this picture of the ducks at Hugh McCrae Park in a small pond. These ducks are known as Mallard/Wild Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). The duck with the green colored head is the male while the brown ducks are the females. This group (paddling) of ducks shows intraspecific competition. Intraspecific competition is a struggle between members of the same species. The male drake aggressively competes with other mallards to find a mating pair. Establishing mating pairs is an example of monogamy (only one mate) even though the birds have a tendency to copulate with other mates. This picture is interesting in particular because it shows two females and one male (polygyny). With the intraspecific competition, usually there are more males than females who are left behind not able to mate after they lose in fights. This direct fighting is an example of contest, interference competition because individuals have all or none access to the mates and there is direct interaction. Overall, this competition affects reproduction with the selectivity and fighting between mates which reduces the amount of mates each mallard has, reducing the genetic variation. It is so interesting that there are so many ecological concepts and terms in a small pond in a neighboring park.
sources: Borrett slides (intraspecific competition)
This picture was taken on February 6 in long leaf pine forest C on the UNCW campus. The lizard in the photo is Anolis carolinensis, commonly known as a green anole. The anole was basking in the sun when I found it, as lizards are poikilotherms and rely on behavioural changes to thermoregulate. They can do this through conduction, convection, and direct solar radiation. In addition to not producing extra energy to maintain a stable internal body temperature, the metabolic rate of ectotherms is lower than it is for endotherms.
I was working in my backyard when I found this little turtle hanging out close to a pool of water located in my usually dried out/muddy creek bed. When I first saw this little guy, I thought it was a common box turtle, but I couldn’t find any colorful markings on it. Its skin was medium/dark brown and its shell was olive green. As far as I can tell this is an Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum), a semi-aquatic creature that spends a lot of time crawling around on the bottom of shallow ponds, mudholes, and other shallow aquatic habitats. These turtles are omnivorous; they eat seeds, insects, and smaller crustaceans like crayfish. Since they only get a little bigger than a man’s fist, they also experience a lot of predation from rodents, birds, and snakes. The Eastern Mud Turtle possesses two hinges on the bottom of its shell allowing it to close for protection. If the turtle is lucky enough, the predator will grow tired of trying to eat it and back off letting the turtle live to see another day.
I was visiting family over Easter and noticed that there were these yellow flowers all over the cow pastures. What I thought was odd was those flowers only seemed to be present where the pastures were. I asked my family what they were and they told me those flowers were buttercups. These flowers are winter annuals that flower in the spring. They are the most common in over grazed fields, and can be harmful to some animals. They can only grow when other dominant plant species are over grazed. Once the seeds have been dispersed buttercups typically can not grow because the dominant plant species is covering the soil. The exposed soil is needed for the buttercups to grow, because it needs the sunlight. They are unwanted weeds to most farmers and the cows will eat around them, which is another reason why they are everywhere, because the cows will eat everything else. This video is a good example to show how one species can effect the growth or suppression of another.
sources: caldwell.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/01/buttercup-pasture-control/
This picture, taken on February 26, is of an archer fish in my friend's aquarium. The Archer Fish (Toxotes jaculatrix), sometimes called the Banded Archer Fish is a brackish water fish found often in small riviers and streams in Asia. Archer Fish are known for their ability to spit at their prey, with extreme accuracy. For a while, this behavior was a mystery to ichthyologists and other scientists, and only recently have studies found out what actually allows the archer fish to spit with great force and accuracy. Their spit is shot like a water jet, knocking insects and other prey into the water to be consumed. Based on research from a study by a physicist in Italy, it has been found that if this stream of water were to hit a human in the face, it would cause pain similar to that of an insect bite or sting. It was found that the spit stream must be shot with a single burst, done by continuously changing the shape of their mouths. The speed and size of the spit both increase as it reaches its prey, maximizing momentum. The Archer Fish can shoot up to two meters out of the water, giving them a relatively large range to capture prey. Scientists believe that these are among the most intelligent of fish, and their hunting behavior is controlled by neurons which may also play a role in social learning among the species.
sources: voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/04/animals-archerfi...
www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160223-how-do-fish-shoot-arrows...
I accidently discovered this sand spur as I walked barefoot through my yard in Elizabethtown, NC. I looked down at the new inhabitant of my yard and thought, hum when did that get there? The sharp spurs that this organism produces are what alerted me to the infestation. Their characteristically unique seed dispersion classifies it as a member of the Cenchrus genus. Many people consider this genus a pest because they spread quickly and are hard to kill. The annual plant is said to blend into the surrounding grass, its presence is only known when the seeds develop in late summer. This weed exemplifies dispersion by creating seeds that stick to other organisms or even things such as tires so that they can be moved to different areas to begin growing. This dispersion method may aid in the spread of the plant into different lawns, towns, areas and even states. If you look down into the grass when you walk outside of crossing buildings on campus, you will see these plants starting to populate the sand. One possible thought as I close this flickr post; if the global climate change causes a rise in temperature, does that mean the geographical domain of this weed and ones like it will also increase?
richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/08/take-the-sting-out-of-sands...
This photo was taken last Sunday afternoon on the south end of Wrightsville Beach just meters away from Masonboro Inlet. Tide pools are located in the intertidal zone and formed during the transition from high to low tides. They contain fine grain sand and broken shells that have been transferred from the bottom of the ocean by waves and currents. These saltwater pools are warmed by the sun and rich in nutrients. If you're lucky enough you may find a crab, minnow, or any number of bivalve mollusks lurking inside them. When I was young I would spend hours digging along the beach for sand fiddler crabs. When crabs respire they create a string of bubbles on the surface of the sand making it easy to locate where they are hiding. Unfortunately I haven't found a sand fiddler in years and often contemplate the reasons behind the population decline of my favorite childhood species.
This is not one of my EcoPhoto submissions, but I remembered after Dr. Borrett was mentioning them in class that I had seen one in the forests behind school last semester, and since they are rare I thought I would share some more info about them.
Pygmy rattlesnakes are a subspecies of pitviper. The "pit" refers to an organ in the snakes head that can detect the heat that other animals give off. They are a venomous snake, but it is a weak venom. They have a very small rattler that usually can't be heard so you may not notice them until you are about to step on them. They are aggressive towards humans and can bite multiple times in a row; it is rarely fatal but if bit you should go to the hospital.
"http://www.snake_removal.com/pigmyrattlesnake.html"
This picture was photographed in the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. This is the highly coveted Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostimga), which can be found natively within the tropical and temperate waters of the eastern Atlantic ocean. Within this picture, is not one but two flounders. The most obvious flounder seen in the bottom of the picture, has just emerged from the sand and gravel at the bottom of the tank. However, the second flounder is much more camouflaged and is mostly buried underneath the substrate, but its eyes and outline can be seen next to the rock (the darker black patch). Flounders have cryptic coloration of seafloor to hide from predators, but can also change their color on demand to match the substrate around them! Flounders have melanophores which contain colored pigments, and iridocytes which reflect light. Through specialized nerve cells, a flounder can adapt its body color to what can see via light stimuli through its eyes and retina. This adaptive camouflaging allows them to be brown and beige to match the gravel in this aquarium, or to be white and grey to match the sandy bottom of the ocean floor. Studies have showed that flounders can match even complex backgrounds like checkerboards of different sizes and shapes in a mere 2-8 seconds. More information can be found within this scholarly article here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8587602
This photo of a cluster of oysters was taken on the sound-side of Wrightsville Beach on February 27th, 2017. Bivalve mollusks form mutualistic relationships with many other organisms including barnacles and crabs. Oysters serve the ecosystem by providing a habitat for other marine animals, by filtering the water, and also by serving as a food source to birds, fish, and humans. It's amazing how important oysters are to local waters; the performance of oysters and other filter feeders is a useful ecological indicator.
I was able to visit the Rocky Mountains for spring break and started thinking about the rain shadow effect we discussed in class. The rain shadow effect occurs when winds carry air towards one side of a mountain range. As the air rises, moisture gathers, clouds begin to form and it rains or snows on the one side of the mountain. This causes the other side of the mountain (or leeward) side to be much dryer than the windward side of the mountain.
The Blackwater Falls State Park is a host to several waterfalls, with its namesake pictured here. I spent a portion of my spring break renting a cabin with my wife and dogs so that we may enjoy the wilderness of a foreign (to us) ecosystem within the Allegheny Mountains.
Blackwater Falls gets its name from the water's black/brown color caused by tannins, a product of the decomposition of vegetation that enters the river.
Although we experienced temperatures as high as 54 degrees Fahrenheit, snow was easy to find throughout the state park due to the low light levels along the hiking trails, and slightly due to elevation.
The fauna wasn't exactly abundant when we were out, but white-tailed deer were seen often at all times of day. American robins and Eastern bluebirds were the only other animal species we managed to see.
The tree species that surrounded us consisted of birch, beech, black cherry, red maple, spruce, and fir: all very different from the pine-dominated landscape of the Wilmington area.
It was relaxing to spend our spring break away from the crowds commonly found along the East Coast, and I must implore others to attempt a similar experience. West Virginia was a new experience for my wife and me, and I'm proud to forgo the drugs and partying for the scenery and sanity of a new location.
4-hyd.ext.wvu.edu/r/download/43053%20
www.watersystemscouncil.org/download/wellcare_information...
I took this photo in Fall of 2016, while on a vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I forget the name of this waterfall. I chose this photo because to me, it encompasses essentially all facets of our Earth System. Quite obviously, the hydrosphere, the plants are biota, and maybe not so obviously; the lithosphere as well. The topography alone in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be truly stunning. In my opinion it is very pleasing to see such awesome representations of our Earth systems in one shot. I think that the rock formations in this photo, and throughout the Appalachians, can be mesmerizing. To apply further, and to revisit the real highlight of the photo; I think that waterfalls may be observed as an amazing and somewhat rare occurrence in our hydrosphere. To take even a step further, I see waterfalls as unique opportunity for promotion of biodiversity in freshwater rivers. Over long periods of time, (talking evolutionary time frames here) waterfalls may promote speciation by acting as natural barriers to migration of freshwater organisms. Next EcoPhoto assignment, I look forward to actually getting out there and snapping a more recent photo in Wilmington area! Just couldn't pass up posting this one.
I took this photo on the trail on campus called The Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve around 4:30 PM on 1/29/17. These oyster mushrooms are labeled under the species Pleurotus. This photo shows the crucial role mushrooms play in our environment. They help break down plant and animal material. Often, they are found on other organisms such as these mushrooms here feeding on this dead tree trunk because they are unable to produce their own energy. Oyster mushrooms in particular help break down toxic chemicals by secreting enzymes which break down the organic bonds in wood into smaller molecules. These organisms are also major absorbers of mercury. Oyster mushrooms are critical to the environment by helping keeping it clean of toxic chemicals.
#UNCW #ecology #bio366 #uncweteal #Sp2017 #image1
This is a small tooth sawfish(Pristis pectinata) from Ripley's Aquarium in South Carolina. This species can grow up to 770 pounds and 18 feet in length.they are part of the Elasmobranchs but are modified rays with a shark-like body and central gill slits. Their saw is actually a modified rostrum with 25-30 teeth on each side as well as Ampullae of Lorenzini. They use the rostrum to sense, catch and eat their prey. Ampullae of Lorenzini are little sensors which tells them where prey are. This sawfish is in captivity but the species can be found from Florida to North Carolina and in the Gulf of Mexico over to Texas. They live in shallow coastal waters close to shore with muddy and sandy bottoms. They prefer waters up to a depth of 32 feet. They are commonly found in sheltered bays, shallow banks, and estuary or river mouths. They prefer water temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius and have salinity preferences between 18 and 24 parts per thousand. They feed mostly on fish but also consume crustaceans. They are ovoviviparous meaning the mother internalizes the eggs until the young are ready to hatch. They are listed under the Endangered Species Act and were the first Elasmobranchs to be listed as so. They are threatened due to bycatch, getting tangled in fishing nets, juvenile habitat lost and other human destruction activities.
The common garter snake (Genus Thamnophis) is a harmless snake that is common throughout most of North America. This particular one was photographed near my family home in Charlotte, NC. There is debate on the classification of species of garter snakes so a species distinction is not commonly used. They have a varied diet and can adjust to multiple habitat types giving them a wide fundamental niche. However, their realized niche is smaller due to them mainly living near water because they primarily eat amphibians.
This common conehead Katydid was found on a window over at the seahawk crossing. Common Conehead (genus Neoconocephalus) is an insect in the katydid family. Common coneheads are herbivores that eat mostly grass seeds or sedges. These insects also have a very unique reproductive cycle. Females have long ovipositors that they use to lay fertilized eggs in plant tissues. This is an example of an r-stragegist.
This is the Laspeyresia saltitans, otherwise known as the Mexican Jumping bean moth. In this photo, taken February 15th 2017 in my apartment, I have captured the exact moment that the moth has hatched from its "Jumping bean" shell, which isn't even a bean at all. It is a small section of a seed capsule of the Sapium biloculare which flower in the Spring and summer months, at which time a female moth will lay her eggs within the seed capsule and as the larvae inside grow, they will feed off of the seed and eventually eat their way out of the capsule when they have transformed into a moth. If the jumping bean is exposed to sunlight or warmth, the larvae inside will jump, hence the name "Jumping Bean". Since the larvae of the moth is completely eating the seed within the capsule, the relationship between the moth and the plant is not beneficial to the plant and the moth is seen as a seed predator.