RABBIT AND LYNX POPULATION
The rabbit and lynx populations in a forest habitat were counted over a fifteen-year period. Lynx are wild
predatory cats. The numbers below represent the data collected.
1. Graph the following data and use your graph to answer the questions. Make a line graph. You should
have 2 lines, one for the rabbits and one for the lynx. Your graph will need to have 2 y-axes because the
scales are so different.
Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
# of Rabbits
100
180
200
220
200
225
350
460
80
60
70
90
120
200
190
210
# of Lynx
3
3
4
6
6
5
6
9
12
3
2
2
2
3
5
4
2. About how many rabbits can the habitat support?
a. 80
b. 100
c. 200
d. 300
e. 400
3. List three factors that could have caused the change in rabbit population.
4. Identify and describe any relationships that exist between the rabbit and lynx populations.
5. Predict how the introduction of sheep to the habitat would influence the rabbit populations.
Justify your prediction.
6. Graph the following information on a different graph and use the graph to answer the
following questions.
Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
Average Rainfall
12.0"
11.5"
12.1"
11.8"
11.9"
18.1"
17.9"
11.5"
12.1"
11.7"
12.1"
11.7"
11.9"
12.5"
12.3"
11.6"
7. Compare your two graphs. Identify and describe any relationships that exist between the
populations and the amount of rainfall.
8.a. Propose an explanation for the relationship described between the rabbit and lynx
populations and rainfall.
b. What data would you need to collect to support your explanation?