What factor may affect pest survival during environmental changes?

Temperature and moisture levels are critical factors influencing pest survival during environmental changes. Pests, like all living organisms, are affected by the abiotic conditions of their environment. Changes in temperature can affect pest development rates, reproduction, and mortality. For instance, many pests thrive within specific temperature ranges, and extreme temperatures can lead to increased mortality or altered life cycles.

Moisture levels also play a vital role, as both high humidity and drought conditions can affect the availability of food sources, breeding sites, and overall pest health. Adequate moisture is necessary for many pests to survive, particularly for those that require water for their eggs or juvenile stages. Conversely, low moisture levels can lead to desiccation and increased fatalities in susceptible pest populations.

In contrast, crop diversity, the presence of natural predators, or soil type, while they certainly impact pest dynamics, do not directly encompass the abiotic environmental conditions like temperature and moisture that exert fundamental effects on pest survival. Thus, focusing on temperature and moisture levels provides a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental changes influence pest populations.