Go Fish!

Why are we doing this activity?

 The class will be split into two groups.  One group will “become” fish.  The other group will “become” the resources of the aquatic habitat.  We will use hand gestures to indicate the different resources of the habitat. What are we going to do?

Food

Shelter

Space

Mate

 At the beginning of each round, each “fish” decides what it will need. At the same time, each “resource of the habitat” decides which resource it will be that round.  Each student will make the appropriate hand gesture.  Choose carefully because you CANNOT change your hand gesture during the round. How do we “play?”

 When you hear, “Go Fish,” everyone will turn around and the “fish” will look for what they “need.” The “resources of the habitat” CANNOT move.  Fish that find what they need, survive to reproduce. (The resources will become a fish for the next round.)  Fish that do not find what they need, will die and their “remains” are recycled by decomposers and become resources of the habitat for the next round. How do we “win?”

 I will keep track of the fish population.  Then you will copy the following tables into your journal.  At the end of this activity you will need to graph your results AND answer the CONCLUSION questions. DATA

YearFish Population SizeResources Population Size st period

3 rd period YearFish Population SizeResources Population Size

5 th period YearFish Population SizeResource Population Size

6 th period YearFish Population SizeResource Population Size

7 th period YearFish Population SizeResource Population Size

8 th period YearFish Population SizeResource Population Size

 Explain what this graph is telling you about how the population of fish and the amount of resources interact with each other. Summary of graph

Competition: two individuals vying(trying to get) for the same resource(s).  In direct competition, two organisms come into direct contact with each other.  In indirect competition, the organisms may never encounter each other but still go after the same resource. Competition

 Limiting factor- any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment. (keeps the population from increasing)  Controls the population  Factor is in short supply  Any change in the amount of the limiting factor will affect population.  Light, nutrients, food, water, etc.) Limiting Factors

 Carrying Capacity: the maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain sustainable populations live at or below their carrying capacity Carrying Capacity

 1. Identify three essential resources (abiotic/biotic factors) of a habitat.  2. How do these resources influence carrying capacity? Conclusion Questions

 3. Define “limiting factors.”  4. What are some limiting factors that affect the survival of animals? Limiting Factors

 5. How do factors affect competition within a species? What three things might happen to the less competitive organism? Competition move to another area adapt to new survival strategies die.

 6. Are wildlife populations static, or do they tend to fluctuate as part of an overall “balance” of nature?  7. Look at your graph. What factors may have caused population changes from year to year. Identify the specific “years” from your graph in your answer.  8. What are the advantages and limitations of this model?