1. Limiting Factors in nature

2. BELL RINGER
-come up with an idea for your own science project or experiment!
-Something you can do outside of school, with your own supplies
ON LOOSE LEAF, WRITE a plan/procedure and a hypothesis for me to approve
(An IF THEN statement and a problem statement)
5 MINUTES, silently and independently -

3. Example:
Problem Question:How does temperature affect the rate at which bananas ripen?
Hypothesis:
IF the temperature is warmer, THEN the bananas will ripen faster.

4. Our plan today: -Bellringer + intro: (5 mins)
-Quick Notes: Limiting factors in Ecosystems (15 mins)
-Independent Practice worksheet: Limiting Factors (15 mins)
-LAB: Oh Deer! Activity (25 mins)
-Lab data analysis (20 mins)
-Exit Ticket (10 mins)
*BACKPACKS AND PHONES SHOULD BE AWAY*

5. Key Ideas: good habitat is the key to wildlife survival,
a population will continue to increase in size until some limiting factors are imposed
limiting factors contribute to fluctuations in wildlife populations, and
nature is never in “balance,” but is constantly is changing.

6. Quick Notes:
Topic: Limiting Factors in Ecosystems
Learning Target: Define “limiting factors” and understand what drives population change in the natural world

7. Where do you see exponential growth in the world?
Where might you see logistic growth?

9. Predation, Parasitism, Disease Food, Shelter, Water, Space
Limiting Factor: something that causes population growth to decrease.
Density-Dependant Factors are limiting factors that depend on population size (usually biotic)
Competition
Intraspecific
interspecific
Predation, Parasitism, Disease
Food, Shelter, Water, Space

10. Density-Independent Limiting Factors
Affect a population no matter what its size is (usually abiotic)
Unusual weather
Drought
Floods
Natural disasters
Seasonal cycles
Certain human activities
Damming rivers, Clear-cutting forests
Forest Fires

11. Oh DEER!
Lab
activity

12. Expectations
You will receive a lab behavior grade that is worth 4 grades like the lab report. ANY behavior issues will result in a zero for their lab behavior grade.
Anyone who gets a zero for lab behavior will not be able to participate in the next lab activity.
We will: Be having fun, respecting each other and living out our norms
We will NOT: Be wandering around the room
Using our phones
Need anything for this activity other than our bodies
Switching from our assigned 1-4 number
-Our procedure is clearly written in the handout; everyone is expected to participate
-We will do 10 rounds without a predator followed by 10 rounds with a predator
-Our class “Wildlife manager” records the data
-AFTER THE LAB… We will return to our seats, make a graph as a class up on the board and you will record our class data in your handout

13. Lab Report
You will answer the following analysis questions, beginning in class, finishing as a lab report for homework:
Analysis:
List the basic needs of animals.
Describe the relationship between resource availability and population growth or decline.
Describe reasons for the fluctuation of the population.
Define “limiting factors” and provide three examples.
What is the carrying capacity for the deer population according to your graph?
Once the deer population goes significantly above carrying capacity, describe what happens to the deer population in the years following.
How did the introduction of a predator affect the deer population in terms of population size and deer behavior?
What was the peak population for the deer population when there were no predators? What happened after the peak? Why?
How might this “simulation” differ from the real relationship between deer and their environment? Write at least two differences and explain.
How do you think this “simulation” game differs from real predator-prey relationships? Explain.
Conclusion:
Write a conclusion to reflect on what we learned. Make sure to answer the following questions:
What was investigated?
Was the hypothesis supported by the data?
What were the major findings?
How did your findings compare with other researchers?
What possible explanations can you offer for your findings?
What recommendations do you have for further study and for improving the experiment?
What are some possible applications of the experiment?

14. Exit Ticket
You have 10 minutes to complete this quiz SILENTLY and INDEPENDENTLY

15. EXTRA CREDIT: Have your art featured on our Word Wall!
-Pick a vocab word that we have learned so far, write it and it’s definition (plus an illustration or decoration) for EXTRA CREDIT A GRADE