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Ecology

Ecology. Predator-Prey Lab. Ecology studies organisms and nonliving things and how they interact with each other. Ecologists study ecosystems. Ecosystem – all the organisms in a given area, along with nonliving factors with which they interact Biotic factors – living

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Ecology

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  1. Ecology Predator-Prey Lab

  2. Ecology studies organisms and nonliving things and how they interact with each other Ecologists study ecosystems. Ecosystem – all the organisms in a given area, along with nonliving factors with which they interact Biotic factors – living Abiotic factors - nonliving

  3. Ecosystem Structure • Community • Population • Species Ecologists specialize and study one of these structures.

  4. Population Ecology • Individuals in a population • Rely on the same resources • Are influenced by the same environmental factors • Are likely to interact and breed with one another • Population ecology is concerned with • Changes in population size • Factors that regulate populations over time

  5. Populations are characterized by: • Density • Dispersion

  6. Predator-Prey Lab: Group of (5) • Create a habitat for mice and fox. Use beads and plastic container to create the habitat. • Will be simulating a predator and prey relationship • Read instructions carefully.

  7. Post Lab: Using expected data to analyze predator-prey interactions within the community • Use the Sample Data Sheet and graph the results on the graph paper provided by your teacher. Graph the initial prey population and the initial predator population neatly and carefully. • Answer the questions 1-3 using the Sample Data: • 1. Which population (predator/prey) shows the first increase in numbers? Explain your answer. • 2. Does a peak in the mice population come at the same time as, after a peak or before a peak in the fox population? What is the explanation for this? • 3. What factor seems to determine the size of the mice population in the meadow in any given generation? Fox population? • How does this lab relate to the situation in Australia with the Cane Toads?

  8. Population Growth • Factors that affect population growth are called “population limiting” factors. • Population limiting factors can be: • Density independent – • Density dependent -

  9. Population Trends • Now complete Lab 4 “How can you show a population trend? • Complete Parts B, C and E

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