Transcript
Bonus QUIZ!!!!!!
Isle RoyaleWolves vs Moose
Objectives
These objectives will be accomplished via a computer simulation of Isle Royale:
• Understand various population ecology terms
– Exponential growth, logistic growth, carrying capacity, and limiting
factors
• Take a real life uninhabited ecological system and learn about
various aspects of population ecology
• Observe how variation in climate effects
– Population size and predator-prey relationships
Isle Royale Location
Isle Royale Background
• In 1900 pioneer moose swam across the open ocean to the uninhabited island
• The moose entered paradise– No predators and full of grass, shrubs, and trees to
eat
• Moose population explosion (30 yrs.)– Several thousands at its peak
• Something disrupted their paradise!!!!!!
Wolves Introduction• Lake Superior frozen in 1940 allowing an ice
bridge to form
• Small pack of wolves found the bridge and crossed to the island
• Wolves paradise began– Huge population of weak moose because of lack
of food
Natural Experiment
• Moose and Wolves have been studied since 1958– Longest running experiment of its kind
• Isolation of the island provides good condition to study predator-prey system– Large enough to support wolf pop, small enough
to keep track of wolves and moose pop annually
Important Population Ecology Terms
• Population ecology is the study of changes in size and composition of a population and the factors that cause it
• Two types of Population Growth Models:– Exponential and Logistical– Useful in helping to understand complexity of pop
growth and predict how pops will change through time
Exponential Growth Model
• No limitations to pop growth– All resources for survival
and reproduction are present
• Larger pop=faster growth– Each successive
generation produce more individuals which cause more and more offspring
dNdt
=rmax N
•rmax represents maximum per capita rate of growth=intrinsic rate of increase
•N=pop size
•t=time
Logistic Growth Model
• Real world model– Limited by availability of
important resources
• Carrying capacity (K)– The max # of species that the
local environment can support at any particular time
– Starts off exponential when the pop is small
– Begins to level off when the resources start to get used up and pop gets large
dNdt
=rmax N (K-N)K
r= per capita growth rateas density
N=K when carrying capacity is reached
Computer Simulation
Part A. The Moose Arrive
Part B. The Wolves Arrive
Part C. Changes in the Weather
Wrap up
• Discuss Presentation with Group Members• Next week:– Quiz 5• Invasive Species and Biological Control (Lab 6) and Isle
Royale(Lab 8)
– PRESENTATIONS!!!!!• Come prepared!!!
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