population_growth_report NEW

Population Growth Report Instructions: In this lab activity, you will investigate how predation, starvation, birthrates, and death rates influence the killer whale and seal populations within a marine ecosystem. Submit your lab report to your instructor when completed. Title: population growth report Your Name: Nadia Festic Teacher Name: Josephine Turingan Hypothesis: Before you begin, form a hypothesis that predicts the outcome of this study. If the starting population of the seals is higher than the whales, the carrying capacity of the seals will be higher than the carrying capacity of the whales. Procedures: 1. Complete the table by performing the following calculations. The first row has been completed for you as a model to follow. a. Determine the total of seal deaths for each year of the study. b. Calculate the seal population change by comparing the births and deaths for the year. The seal population change can be positive or negative. c. Calculate the seal population for the year by adding or subtracting the population change to that of the previous year. 2. Fill in data table 2 with the same seal population from data table 1. 3. Create two line graphs on the plot provided. In one color for the seal population and another for the whale population. (You may use any drawing or graphing tool you are familiar with to draw on the provided plot or create a unique graph and insert the graph in this document.) a. Use the drawing tool in word processor to draw the lines. b. Both lines should be graphed from left to right. c. Make sure to use the axes value for seals on the left and whales on the right. d. Draw a horizontal dotted line across the graph that represents the carrying capacity for the whales and seals. (Hint: Where do the populations stabilize and growth slows to zero?) e. Label the carrying capacity line by inserting a text box or using the draw tool. 4. Complete the conclusion and reflection questions.

Data Analysis: Data Table 1 Year Seal Births Predation Starvation Seal Deaths Population Change Seal Population 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 100 2 50 30 5 35 15 115 3 100 45 15 4 90 60 17 5 95 85 25 6 85 73 21 7 65 60 17 8 60 50 14 9 64 55 10 10 65 55 10 Data Table 2 Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Seal Population 100 115 Whale Population 5 7 11 15 19 17 12 10 9 9 Graph Conclusion: Answer the following questions as your conclusion in complete sentences. ● According to the graph, what happened to the seal population as the whale population increased?

It represents a peak phenomenon because when the seals increase so do the whales, but when the whales increase the seals decrease. 4. Climate change (an abiotic factor) has slowly decreased habitat for the arctic seals. a. Predict how a reduction in habitat could change the behavior of the killer whales. No habitat will cause a loss in production rate therefore changing the predator’s habits. b. Explain how this scenario would affect the carrying capacities for both the whales and the seals. The carrying capacities would lessen for both because fewer seals cause a lower carrying capacity and fewer seals consumed for whales means less whales alive therefore a lower carrying capacity.