In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, there are many populations of the checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha. You notice that females of one population, population A, lay their eggs near the tip of a plant's stem. Females of another population in the same area, population B, lay their eggs at the base of the stem on a different type of plant. The young hatch as caterpillars, and they live on the host plant and eat its leaves. The choice of different host plants by members of these two populations of butterfly: decreases competition among members of the same butterfly population. increases competition among members of the same butterfly population. increases competition between members of the two different butterfly populations. decreases competition between members of the two different butterfly populations. has no effect on competition between members of the two different butterfly populations.
