Hawks and rabbits and grass oh my! Questions to Ponder How do organisms interact with each other in an environment? What should an ideal population look.

Hawks and rabbits Hawks and rabbits and grass oh my!and grass oh my!

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

How do organisms interact with each other in an environment?

What should an ideal population look like?

Rules for Rules for Relationships Relationships (it’s all (it’s all

about relationships!)about relationships!)1. If two similar organisms meet then they

produce one offspring of the same species.2. Hawks eat only rabbits. Rabbits eat only grass.3. It is assumed that grasses get all the

nourishment they need (water, sun,etc).4. Animals – hawks and rabbits – must eat at least

every other turn to avoid death by starvation (keep track).

5. Do not tell anyone you “pair up” with what you are—or I beat you!

6. I will take totals of what organisms are left after each turn. Put you head down and raise your hand when I ask about each organism.

Data Collection

Record group data on a sheet of paper of each generation and the number of organisms in that generation.After 6 generations have been recorded, graph your data on a sheet of graph paper and LABEL all parts of your graph!Interpret and analyze data and graph. Explain trends, and future possibilities.

Organism

Generations

1 2 3 4 5

Hawk 1515 1919 2222 1414 1010

Rabbit 33 33 22 00 00

Grass 99 99 77 99 1212

Ecology Simulation example:

Graph

0

5

10

15

20

25

1 2 3 4 5

Number of Generations

Nu

mb

er

of

Org

an

ism

s

HawkRabbitGrass

Questions for Conclusion: Write your answers in complete sentences on a sheet of paper; label it “H-R-G conclusion.”1. What would the community be like in 10 generations?

2. What would happen if another small mammal was introduced to the area at the beginning of this activity?

3. What would have happened if we did start with equal numbers of hawks, rabbits and grass?

4. What should the population numbers be like in a successful community?

5. What might happen if some of the rabbits inherited the characteristic of camouflage fur? What would happen to those rabbits that did not?

6. What might happen to this population if

Elmer Fudd hunts frequently in this area?

Explain your answer.