1. Population Simulation
Jackrabbits & Coyotes

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

3. Predator-Prey Relationship

4. 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…)

5. Jobs
Jefe- Mathematician today (makes sure everything is counted & added correctly)- see me when your green sheet is full
Recorder- write procedures; double checks jefe’s math & makes sure everyone records the info
Materials- makes sure materials respected, put away, in charge of spreading out rabbits evenly as possible
Presenter- Measure drop distances each round, makes sure no one moves coyotes until all eaten rabbits counted & removed

6. 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; rabbits eaten=coyote reproduces (add one coyote for ea. 3 eaten)
Surviving rabbits double (reproduce) every generation
Record & calculate 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

7. 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?

8. Run your experiment!

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

10. Bellwork What has happened to your jackrabbits & coyotes so far?
What things can LIMIT how big the jackrabbit or coyote population grow??

11. Population Notes (after break)

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

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

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

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

16. Estimate the carrying capacity of hares
~40-60

17. Estimate the carrying capacity of lynx
~20-30

18. Finish your experiment! (if you get to 25 gens- see Ms. D)

19. Closure Do outloud with partner
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?

20. 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.