Figure 16.13 Altering competition with herbivores. Over a 10-year period, the plot on the right was sprayed with an insecticide to prevent beetles from consuming the goldenrods— the tall plants with yellow flowers—while the plot on the left was left unsprayed. The unsprayed plot experienced an outbreak of beetles and this greatly reduced the density and height of the goldenrod plants. As a result, many species of plants that are inferior competitors became more numerous.

Photo by W. Carson.