Analyzing Factors That Affect Carrying Capacity
Assignment Summary
In this assignment, you will use simulations to analyze how climate, resources, and habitat size affect carrying capacity.
Background Information
Population growth is the change in size of a group of organisms of the same species over time. It is affected by four factors: birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration.
Carrying capacity is the maximum total population that an area can support. Carrying capacity limits population growth and is affected by competition for food, water, shelter, or mates, and threat of predators, disease, and parasites. Carrying capacity may be affected by one or a combination of these factors.
--> Download the Student Worksheet
--> Read the Rubric
PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Launch the Gizmo Rabbit Population by Season.
Click here <-- to launch the Rabbit Population by Season simulation and the experiment.
Step 2: Set up and run the first simulation.
a) Under Land, choose Little.
b) Move the simulation speed to Fast.
c) Do not select any of the Conditions.
d) Click the Graph tab on the top right.
e) Zoom the graph out by clicking the – symbol on the right side of the graph until the graph shows 0–45 years on the x-axis.
f) Click Play (►) and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 15 years.
g) Pause (ll) the simulation.
h) Under Land, choose Moderate.
i) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 30 years.
j) Pause the simulation.
k) Under Land, choose Ample.
l) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 45 years.
m) Stop the simulation.
n) Take a snapshot of the graph by clicking on the camera on the right-top part of the graph. Copy and paste the graph into the empty space under Graph A: The Effects of Land Size on Carrying Capacity in the Student Worksheet.
Step 3: Set up and run the second simulation.
a) Reset the simulation.
b) Under Land, choose Ample.
c) Under Conditions, choose Harsh winter.
d) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 15 years.
e) Pause the simulation.
f) Keep Harsh winter checked and click Cold spring under Conditions.
g) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 30 years.
h) Pause the simulation.
i) Keep Harsh winter and Cold spring checked and click Hot summer under Conditions.
j) Click play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 45 years.
k) Stop the simulation.
l) Copy and paste the graph into the empty space under Graph B: The Effects of Different Conditions on Carrying Capacity in the Student Worksheet.
Step 4: Answer questions 1 – 4 and then submit the Student Worksheet in Edgenuity.
Assignment Summary
In this assignment, you will use simulations to analyze how climate, resources, and habitat size affect carrying capacity.
Background Information
Population growth is the change in size of a group of organisms of the same species over time. It is affected by four factors: birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration.
Carrying capacity is the maximum total population that an area can support. Carrying capacity limits population growth and is affected by competition for food, water, shelter, or mates, and threat of predators, disease, and parasites. Carrying capacity may be affected by one or a combination of these factors.
--> Download the Student Worksheet
--> Read the Rubric
PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Launch the Gizmo Rabbit Population by Season.
Click here <-- to launch the Rabbit Population by Season simulation and the experiment.
Step 2: Set up and run the first simulation.
a) Under Land, choose Little.
b) Move the simulation speed to Fast.
c) Do not select any of the Conditions.
d) Click the Graph tab on the top right.
e) Zoom the graph out by clicking the – symbol on the right side of the graph until the graph shows 0–45 years on the x-axis.
f) Click Play (►) and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 15 years.
g) Pause (ll) the simulation.
h) Under Land, choose Moderate.
i) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 30 years.
j) Pause the simulation.
k) Under Land, choose Ample.
l) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 45 years.
m) Stop the simulation.
n) Take a snapshot of the graph by clicking on the camera on the right-top part of the graph. Copy and paste the graph into the empty space under Graph A: The Effects of Land Size on Carrying Capacity in the Student Worksheet.
Step 3: Set up and run the second simulation.
a) Reset the simulation.
b) Under Land, choose Ample.
c) Under Conditions, choose Harsh winter.
d) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 15 years.
e) Pause the simulation.
f) Keep Harsh winter checked and click Cold spring under Conditions.
g) Click Play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 30 years.
h) Pause the simulation.
i) Keep Harsh winter and Cold spring checked and click Hot summer under Conditions.
j) Click play and let the simulation run until the line on the graph reaches 45 years.
k) Stop the simulation.
l) Copy and paste the graph into the empty space under Graph B: The Effects of Different Conditions on Carrying Capacity in the Student Worksheet.
Step 4: Answer questions 1 – 4 and then submit the Student Worksheet in Edgenuity.