Warm-UP 9/12 Suppose two ground squirrels mated in the park and produced six offspring annually. Assume all female members of each generation reproduce each year and there are no squirrel deaths. Also assume that half of the population is female. Since there are no limiting factors present, the number of male and female squirrels is equal. 1. Calculate the number of offspring that will be reproduced every year for five consecutive years. 2. Predict the size of the squirrel population in the park after 10 years. 3. Predict what would happen to the squirrels if they were unable to leave the park. (geographic boundary) 4. Predict what would happen to the plant population (food source) in the park. 5. Hypothesize why the Earth is not overrun with squirrels.

Warm-up 9/14 1. How are carrying capacity and limiting factors related? Limiting factors reduce the population size because of resources limitation, competition, etc. Carry Capacity is the largest population an ecosystem can sustain- limiting factors help to determine the size of carrying capacity. 2. What kind of factors affect population size? (brainstorm at least 5) 3. Describe how each of these you listed above are limiting factors A. Water/food- organism will starve or thirst B. Space to live- organism will leave to find new space C. Predators- organism will be eaten D. Disease- organism will get sick and die E. temperature- too high can cause drought- lead to starvation, too-cold can cause organisms to die off (ice age)