Using the Scientific Method to Study Wildlife Populations

Review of Scientific Method Information Hypothesis Analysis It’s a circular process used to answer questions and gain knowledge. Experiment

We can use the Scientific Method to: See how far Sage Grouse go to find mates. See how far Sage Grouse go to find mates. See if there are enough strutting grounds around. See if there are enough strutting grounds around. –to make sure there are enough –and to make sure they are close enough. Determine what is their preferred habitat for strutting. Determine what is their preferred habitat for strutting.

Question Do mountains get in the way of Sage Grouse going to their strutting grounds?

Information Gather all of the information we can so that we can get an idea of what to expect Experiment AnalysisHypothesis

Information Sage grouse will visit many strutting grounds each spring Sage grouse will visit many strutting grounds each spring Prefer to go to those strutting grounds that are close together Prefer to go to those strutting grounds that are close together Sage grouse can travel up to 13 miles to find habitat that they like Sage grouse can travel up to 13 miles to find habitat that they like Can be seen as far up as 9000 feet on a mountain Can be seen as far up as 9000 feet on a mountain

Need to Breed 1.) The offspring gets one gene from each parent. 2.) Two individuals must come into contact to reproduce. This may not be possible if there are obstacles.

Aspects of the Land Different Animals Like Different Things a.) large open spaces (quail like to hide) b.) large lakes (bobcats don’t like to swim) c.) fences (antelope have trouble jumping) d.) roads (turtles, frogs, and many deer can’t cross quickly enough) Use the land the way that they know how in order to find their mates and reproduce.

A dead frog can’t pass on its genes.

Just as frogs must reach water to breed, sage-grouse need open areas to meet and attract mates. These open areas are called strutting grounds.

Bad Sage-grouse Habitat

Good Sage-grouse Habitat

Hypothesis If the mountain is less than 9000 feet high, a sage grouse will go over it to get to a strutting ground. If the mountain is less than 9000 feet high, a sage grouse will go over it to get to a strutting ground. If the mountain is more than 9500 feet high a sage grouse will not go over it to get to a strutting ground. If the mountain is more than 9500 feet high a sage grouse will not go over it to get to a strutting ground. (Had to give ourselves some wiggle room) (Had to give ourselves some wiggle room)

Design the Experiment Need to put radio-collars on the sage grouse so that we can follow where they go. Need to put radio-collars on the sage grouse so that we can follow where they go. Follow them and record the different breeding ground that they go to during the breeding season. Follow them and record the different breeding ground that they go to during the breeding season. Plot them on a map and look at the mountains that are between one breeding ground and the next. Plot them on a map and look at the mountains that are between one breeding ground and the next. Record the elevation of all the mountains that separate breeding grounds that sage grouse go to. Record the elevation of all the mountains that separate breeding grounds that sage grouse go to.

Results/Analysis Radio-tracked 50 sage grouse. Radio-tracked 50 sage grouse. Mountains were crossed 200 times by the 50 sage grouse on their way to strutting grounds. Mountains were crossed 200 times by the 50 sage grouse on their way to strutting grounds. 182 times, the mountain was less than 9000 feet in elevation 182 times, the mountain was less than 9000 feet in elevation 18 times, the mountain was greater than 9500 feet in elevation 18 times, the mountain was greater than 9500 feet in elevation So what can we say about the results and our hypothesis? So what can we say about the results and our hypothesis?

What about those 18 times that the sage-grouse went over the mountain when it was >9500 feet?

Sage grouse will sometimes cross mountains higher than 9500 feet. Why do they? Information Experiment AnalysisHypothesis

What do you think?