Population Simulation Jackrabbits & Coyotes

Bellwork Use the macroinvertebrate data table to answer the following Qs: What is the water quality SCORE and ASSESSMENT? Would you swim in this water? Explain why or why not. Would adding POUCH SNAILS to the water make the water LESS healthy than it is now….explain why or why not? If the population of dobsonflies suddenly decreased, but the mayflies & stoneflies stayed the same, what could that mean? 3 3 1 1 12 9 2 1 24 Excellent

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates react differently They still exist in healthy streams! Healthy streams have everything (high diversity)! But beware of LARGE populations of these… Midges Tubifex Worms Pouch Snails

What is the relationship between the Roadrunner & Wile E. Coyote? Describe another real life example of this kind of relationship.

Predator-Prey Relationship

Jackrabbits & Coyotes How do you think the size of a predator population and prey population affect one another? Write a hypothesis (if…then…as measured by…)

Procedures- in lab notebook Spread out 3 rabbits (white) evenly across habitat (green sheet) Hold 1 coyote (red) 1ft above lab table, & drop it once to eat. Must land on/touch a rabbit to eat it. 0 rabbits eaten= coyote dies; 1 rabbit eaten= coyote survives; 3+ rabbits eaten=coyote reproduces (add one coyote for ea. 3 eaten) Surviving rabbits double (reproduce) every generation Record & calculate info @ end of each gen Count out start #s for next gen & repeat for 18+ gens If all coyotes die: 1 new coyote immigrates in If all rabbits die: 3 new rabbits immigrate in

How many rabbits must a coyote eat in one drop to reproduce? Example 3 1 3 3 1 6 1 2 4 4 1 How many rabbits must a coyote eat in one drop to reproduce?

Jobs Jefe- Mathematician today (makes sure everything is counted & added correctly)- see me if you get to 200+ rabbits Recorder- double checks jefe’s math before starting each round, makes sure everyone records info correctly Materials- makes sure materials respected, put away, in charge of spreading out rabbits evenly as possible Presenter- Measures drop distances each round, makes sure no one moves coyotes until all eaten rabbits counted & removed

Run your experiment!

Half-way Closure What kinds of things are LIMITS to how big your jackrabbit or coyote population can grow?

Update your Ecology Divider Ecology Unit Notes Labs Assignments Tests -What is Life Notetaker -Energy Flow Notes -Trophic Levels & Rule of 10 Notes -Biome Research Notes -Biome Poster Notes -Aquatic Macroinvertebrates & Water Quality -Population Notes -Cricket Mark & Recapture Lab -Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Lab -What Is Life Quiz

Population Notes (after break)

Limiting Factors What kinds of factors LIMIT how big the jackrabbit & coyote populations can grow?

Limiting Factors Limiting Factors = factors that limit the growth of a population: food, water, shelter, & space

Carrying Capacity Analogy Bucket = habitat/resources Water = new births Overflow = deaths due to exceeding the carrying capacity

Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity (K) = # of individuals that the environment can support Overshoot

Estimate the carrying capacity of hares ~40-60

Estimate the carrying capacity of lynx ~20-30

Graph & Conclusion Graph how the population of jackrabbits vs coyotes change over time (think about what kind of graph this is…) Conclusion paragraph- in lab notebook under procedures (complete sentences, separate paper)

Closure Do on blank BW spot Predator-Prey Population Graph Which line do you think represents the prey population? Explain why you chose it. Which line do you think represents the predator population? Explain why you chose it. Estimate the carrying capacity of the prey population. In what year did the prey population overshoot the carrying capacity the most? What does this mean about the limiting factors that year?

Closure Predator-Prey Population Graph Which line do you think represents the prey population? Explain why you chose it. Which line do you think represents the predator population? Explain why you chose it. Estimate the carrying capacity of the prey population. In what year did the prey population overshoot the carrying capacity the most? What does this mean about the limiting factors that year? Green line, b/c bigger population Red, b/c smaller population 40 to 60 1865 There must have been lots of grass (or whatever prey feeds on), water, space, etc.

Sponge: Think about it… Hunting permits are frequently issued to help control certain populations of animals. When would a state want to issue a LOT of permits for deer hunting? How could this affect the wolf population in the area? Are deers autotrophs or heterotrophs? What about wolves? Explain your answers.