1. Do Now!
1. Copy the objective. 2. Create a list of the towns that border or are near Montville, NJ.
Ecologists define a community as a group of populations that occupy the same
given area at a given time.

2. Community Interactions
A lab illustrating the Predator-Prey Relationship

3. Community Interactions
Interactions among populations , along with the abiotic factors, shape the ecosystem
Types of interactions include:
Competition
When populations compete for food, space, or light called interspecific competition
When organisms within the population also compete for food, space resources called intraspecific competition
Predation
Symbiosis = a “relationship” between two or more populations
Relationship developed over time
Types include:
Mutualism – both benefit Ex. Clownfish and Sea Anemone, Lichen, Protozoan in the Gut of a Termite
Commensalism – one benefit while other isn’t affected Ex. Barnacles on belly of Whale
Parasitism – one benefits at the expense of another Ex. Dog and tick

4. Island Royale National Park
Click on the above link and observe the abiotic and biotic factors of this ecosystem. Listen and learn about the special features about this national park

5. Predation
One type of organism consumes another type for food, called predator
Predator does not need to be an animal
Prey is the organism consumed
Predator-Prey Simulation Website

6. Predator and Prey Lab
Question: How do the numbers of predators affect the number of prey?
Claim: The population size of one type affects the population size of another. The wolf and moose population in Isle Royale National Park has changed over time.
Analysis: Use Population Size for the moose and the wolf population at given times in a given area
Use the information on the data tables to support the claim

7. Data Tables:
Year
Number of Moose
1960
600
1965
750
1970
1600
1975
1250
1980
900
1985
1300
1990
1500
1995
2500
2000
500
2005
800
2010
Year
Number of Wolves
1960 20
1965 18
1970 10
1975 40
1980 50
1985 15
1990 12
1995 21
2000 14
2005 30
2010 25

8. Year

9. A Bit of Info about the Wolves and the Moose
For over 50 years researchers from Michigan Technological University have been studying the relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale, located in the middle of Lake Superior. This long term study continues to surprise us with new discoveries on how the natural world works. Hear the latest news from Assistant Professor John Vucetich, and learn more about why the fate of Isle Royale wolves may be in jeopardy.
Wolf-Moose Relations Study
The Wolves and Moose of Royale Island
2012 Island Royale Wolf Population

10. Post Lab…
What is happening to the moose and wolf population from 1960 to 1970?
Look at the moose and wolf population points for 1970, 1975, and What do you notice about these points? Describe your observations. Explain your observations.
Look at your graph again, how are the wolf and moose populations related to each other from ? Explain the cause and effect of the population changes your graph is showing.
Compare the moose and wolf populations in Describe what is happening from Why do you think this occurred?
How does the size of the moose population affect the wolf population
How does the size of the wolf population affect the moose population?
What would be the short term impact on the wolf population if in 1985, there were 200 more moose births than normal, bringing the moose population to 1,500 instead of 1,300?

12. Factors that Affect a Population’s Size
Number of organisms
a. Competition for space (territory)
b. Competition for food (resources)
Disease can spread easily among the individuals
Predation – predator or prey too many? Too few?
Natural disaster
A factor the influences or keeps the population from getting to big is called a “limiting” factor.

13. Year
Wolf Population
Deer Population
Deer Population Change
1971 10
2,000
+300
1972 12
2,300
+200
1973 16
2,500
-140
1974 22
2,360
-116
1975 28
2,224
-150
1976 24
2,094
+298
1977 21
1,968
+340
1978 18
1,916
+430
1979 19
1,952
+412
1980
1,972
+422
Predation or Starvation?