Population Simulation

Jackrabbits & Coyotes

1. What is the relationship between the Roadrunner & Wile E. Coyote?

2. Describe another real life example of this kind of relationship.

Bellwork

Predator-Prey Relationship

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…)

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

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;

3+ rabbits eaten=coyote reproduces (add one coyote for ea. 3 eaten)– Surviving rabbits double (reproduce) every generation

• Record & calculate info @ 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

Example

3 1 0 3 3 1 0 06 1 2 4 4 0 1 0

How many rabbits must a coyote eat in one drop to reproduce?

Run your experiment!

Half-way Closure

• What kinds of things are LIMITS to how big your jackrabbit or coyote population can grow?

1. What has happened to your jackrabbits & coyotes so far?

2. What things can LIMIT how big the jackrabbit or coyote population grow??

Bellwork

Population Notes (after break)

Limiting FactorsWhat kinds of factors LIMIT how big the jackrabbit & coyote populations can grow?

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors = factors that limit the growth

of a population: food, water, shelter, & space

Carrying Capacity AnalogyBucket = habitat/resources

Water = new births

Overflow = deaths due to exceeding the carrying capacity

Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity (K) = # of individuals that the environment can support

Overshoot

Estimate the carrying capacity of hares ~40-60

Estimate the carrying capacity of lynx ~20-30

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

1. Which line do you think represents the prey population? Explain why you chose it.

2. Which line do you think represents the predator population? Explain why you chose it.

3. Estimate the carrying capacity of the prey population.

4. In what year did the prey population overshoot the carrying capacity the most?

5. What does this mean about the limiting factors that year?

ClosureDo outloudwith partner

Predator-Prey Population Graph

1. Which line do you think represents the prey population? Explain why you chose it.

2. Which line do you think represents the predator population? Explain why you chose it.

3. Estimate the carrying capacity of the prey population.

4. In what year did the prey population overshoot the carrying capacity the most?

5. What does this mean about the limiting factors that year?

Closure Predator-Prey Population Graph

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.