AP  Biology  Ecology  Summer  Assignment  Instructions
Michael  Balog
E-­‐mail:  michael.balog@asfg.mx
Time  Requirement
•
This  assignment  is  designed  to  take  10  hours.
Due  Date
•
This  assignment  will  be  due  on  the  first  Friday  of  our  return  to  school.  The  written  (non-­‐graphical)   portions  of  the  assignment  must  be  completed  in  word  and  submitted  to  turnitin.com.  More  details  on   submission  will  be  provided  in  the  first  week  of  class.
Required  Textbook   th
•
Biology  (7  Ed.)  by  Campbell  &  Reece-­‐  pick  up  at  the  bookstore  before  you  leave  for  the  holidays.
Photocopy  the  relevant  sections  if  you  are  travelling  and  do  not  want  to  take  the  book  with  you.
Documents  Needed:
•
AP  Biology  Ecology  Summer  Assignment  Instructions
•
AP  Biology  Ecology  Unit  Objectives
•
Ecology  Review  Sheet  Chapter  50-­‐52
•
Populations  Exercises
Important  Website  Links:
• http://apbiologyasfg.shutterfly.com/  (AP  Biology  Course  Website)
• http://apbiologyasfg.shutterfly.com/ecology  (Information  About  Ecology  and  Summer  Assignment)
Instructions:
1.
Read  the  instructions  on  this  document.  Find  all  pertinent  documents  on  the  course  website  (see  link   above).
2.
Read  Chapters  50-­‐52  of  the  Campbell   Biology  textbook.  Follow  steps  3  for  every  chapter.
3.
Use  the  AP  Biology  Ecology  Unit  Objectives  as  a  guide  to  what  is  most  important.  Keep  in  mind  that   you  should  have  read  all  of  the  text  but  that  some  of  the  concepts  are  more  important.
4.
Listen  to  the  VOD  casts  on  the  AP  Biology  class  website  located  on  the  Ecology  page  under  Ecology
Instructional  Links.  Only  watch  the  videos  belonging  to  chapters  50-­‐52.
5.
Complete  the  exercises  from  the  Ecology  Review  Sheet  Chapter  50-­‐52  by  typing  the  responses  into  a   word  document.  You  must  complete  any  graphs  by  hand.  Complete  each  section  at  the  end  of  the   chapter.  Don’t  try  and  do  all  three  sections  at  one  time.
6.
After  completing  steps  1-­‐5,  complete  the  population  exercises  in  the  document.  All  the  necessary   formulas  are  located  on  the  sheet.  All  graphs  need  to  be  completed  by  hand.  Please  do  not  forget  to   include  the  following:  main  title,  x  and  y  axis  titles,  origin,  proper  scale  for  x  and  y  axis,  minimum  graph   size  of  ½  page,  plotted  points  if  a  line  graph,  on  graph  paper,  use  a  ruler  and  pencil,  and  make  sure  that   you  chose  the  appropriate  style  of  graph  (line,  bar,  or  pie).
7.
Become  a  member  of  the  AP  Biology  class  website  by  first  becoming  a  member  of  shutterfly  (most  of   you  did  this  already  during  the  2010-­‐2011  school  year)  and  then  asking  to  become  a  member  of  the   class  website.  It  is  very  important  that  you  use  a  functional  e-­‐mail  address  as  I  will  periodically  send   important  information  throughout  the  course  to  your  e-­‐mail  account.
8.
Respond  to  forum  and  poll  questions  on  the  class  website.

Chapter 50 Introduction to Ecology
3  Most  Important  Concepts:
1.
Abiotic  and  biotic  factors  affect  species  range,  distribution  and  abundance.
2.
Many  global  processes  affect  the  distribution  and  abundance  of  abiotic  factors   such  as  air  and  water  currents.
3.
Biomes  are  broad  geographic  areas  of  similar  ecological  components.
You  need  to  know:
•
Examples  of  abiotic  and  biotic  factors
•
The  difference  between  species  distribution  and  abundance.
•
The  levels  of  biological  organization  (p.4  and  5)
•
The  difference  between  environmentalism  and  ecology
•
Dispersal  and  the  limits  to  species  range  (fig  50.6  on  p.  1084)
•
Species  transplants
•
Behavioral  and  biotic  factors  that  affect  species  distribution
•
Abiotic  factors  that  affect  species  distribution
•
Seasons  are  generated  by  Earth’s  axial  tilt,  not  distance  from  the  sun
•
Air  circulation  affects  global  precipitation  patterns
•
General  characteristics  of  the  different  marine  biomes  (p.  1094  to  1097)
•
General  characteristics  of  the  different  terrestrial  biomes  (p.  1100  to  1103)
Important  Terms:
Abiotic,  Biotic,  Biota,  Population,  Community,  Ecosystem,  Biosphere,  Dispersal,
Climate,  Biomes,  Photic  zone,  Aphotic  zone,  Detritus
Chapter 51 Behavioral Ecology
3  Most  Important  Concepts:
1.
All  behaviors  have  at  least  some  biological  basis  in  our  genetic  composition.
Some  behaviors  are  entirely  genetic.
2.
Behavioral  traits  can  evolve  by  natural  selection  or  sexual  selection  where   behaviors  that  favor  increased  reproductive  success  are  promoted.
3.
The  environment  can  influence  the  development  of  behaviors.  When  behavior  is   influenced  by  experiences  it  is  called  learning.

You  need  to  know:
•
The  difference  between  proximate  and  ultimate  causes
•
The  difference  between  a  fixed  action  pattern  and  imprinting
•
Examples  of  the  different  types  of  behavior  that  are   influenced  by  genes
•
Cool:  monogamy  in  prairie  voles-­‐  don’t  have  to  know  specifically  but  it  should   cause  you  to  think  about  many  behaviors  that  we  think  are  learned  that  have  a   genetic  background  as  well
•
Behavior  can  be  affected  by  diet,  social  environment
•
Important:  Different  types  of  learning
•
Impact  of  natural  selection  on  the  evolution  of  behaviors
•
Foraging  behavior  (more  successful  at  getting  food,  more  chances  to  mate,  more   offspring)  specifics  such  as  optimal  foraging  theory  and  the  experiments  that   demonstrate  adaptive  behaviors
•
Concept  of  inclusive  fitness  and  its  ability  to  account  for  altruism
•
Examples  of  social  learning
Important  Terms:
Behavioral  ecology,  proximate  questions,  ultimate  questions,  fixed  action  patterns,   sign  stimulus,  imprinting,  sensitive  period,  innate  behaviors,  kinesis,  taxis,   pheromones,  learning,  habituation,  spatial  learning,  associative  learning  (classical   conditioning,  operant  conditioning),  cognition,  foraging,  optimal  foraging  theory,
promiscuous,  monogamous,  polygamous,  agnostic  behavior,  altruism,  inclusive  fitness,   reciprocal  altruism,  social  learning
Chapter 52 Population Ecology
3  Most  Important  Concepts:
1.
Multiple  factors  influence  the  overall  size  and  distribution  of  a  population.
2.
The  exponential  model  of  growth  describes  population  growth  in  an  idealized,   unlimited  environment  while  logistic  growth  stabilizes  around  a  carrying   capacity.
3.
K-­‐selection  and  r-­‐selection  are  different  population  growth  patterns  based  on   differences  in  life  strategies  for  individual  members  of  the  species.
You  Need  to  Know:
•
Difference  between  density  and  dispersion
•
Mark  and  recapture  method

•
How  immigration,  emigration,  births  and  deaths  can  influence  a  population  size
•
Patterns  of  dispersion
•
Survivorship  curves
•
Big  bang  reproduction  contrasted  with  repeated  reproduction
•
J-­‐shaped  curve  represents  exponential  growth  (what  is  necessary  for   exponential  growth)
•
Carrying  capacity  and  logistic  population  growth
•
(
Δ
N)  =  (births  +  immigration)  -­‐  (deaths  +  emigration)
•
Percent  growth  =  [b  +  i]  -­‐  [  d  +  e]      x  100%
Initial  population
•
Population  Density Dp  =  N/A  or  Dp  =  N/V  (D  =  Density,  N  =  number  of  organisms,
A=  area,  V  =  volume)
•
The  rate  of  change  can  be  calculated  by  the  formula  R  =  D/t  (t  =  time,  D  =   density)
•
K-­‐  selection  (density  dependant)  characteristics  and  r-­‐selection  (density   independent)  characteristics  ·∙·∙·∙·∙see  powerpoint  population  genetics  notes
•
Factors  regulating  growth  of  density  dependent  population  growth  curves
•
Human  population  characteristics  and  reading  histograms
Important  Terms:
Population  ecology,  density,  dispersion,  mark-­‐recapture  method,  immigration,   emigration,  demographics,  survivorship  curves,  life  history,  zero-­‐population  growth,
exponential  growth,  carrying  capacity,  logistic  growth,  K/r  selection,  density   dependant,  density  independent,  ecological  footprint,  ecological  capacity

Note:  This  review  package  does  not  include  questions  on  all  of  the  content  located  within  the  ecology
chapters.  Please  refer  to  AP  Biology  Ecology  Unit  Objectives  for  that  list.
Chapter  50
1.
Give  an  example  of  how  an  abiotic  factor  could  affect  a  specific  species  range,  distribution,  and   abundance.  Provide  an  example  of  how  a  biotic  factor  could  affect  a  species  range,  distribution,  and   abundance.
2.
What  are  the  levels  of  biological  organization  and  give  one  example  of  each.
3.
Describe  a  global  process  that  can  affect  the  distribution  and  abundance  of  an  abiotic  factor.
4.
Many  factors  affect  the  oxygen  concentration  found  in  lakes  that  experience  seasonal  turnover.  In  a   laboratory  cold  water  contains  higher  concentrations  of  gases,  but  remember  that  a  lake  is  an   ecosystem  with  living  things  and  this  might  not  always  be  the  case.  Fill  in  the  following  table:
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Area  of  high  oxygen   concentration
Reason  for  high   oxygen   concentration
Area  of  low  oxygen
concentration
Reason  for  low   oxygen   concentration
Temperate
Grassland
Temperate
Broadleaf
(deciduous)  Forest
Coniferous  (pine)
Forest
5.
What  is  eutrophication?  What  causes  it?  How  does  it  affect  oxygen  concentrations  of  lakes?
6.
Fill  in  the  table  regarding  biomes:
Biome   Temperature  and
Precipitation
Common  Plants   Common  Animals   Adaptations  of  an
Animal  or  Plant  that   aid  in  its  survival
Tropical  Forest
Savanna
Desert
Chaparral
Tundra
High  Mountains
Chapter  51
1.
What  is  the  difference  between  an  innate  and  a  learned  behavior?
2.
Give  2  examples  of  behaviors  that  have  evolved  as  a  result  of  natural  selection?  Describe  the  process   of  natural  selection  specific  to  each  situation.  Remember  that  some  adaptations  increase  the   probability  of  survival,  which  increases  the  probability  of  finding  a  mater,  which  increase  the

probability  of  producing  offspring,  which  increases  the  probability  of  passing  on  the  adaptation  (gene)   to  subsequent  generations.  After  a  long  time  and  many  generations,  the  population  begins  to….
3.
Compare  and  contrast  fixed  action  patterns  with  imprinting?
4.
Compare  and  contrast  kinesis,  taxis,  and  migration?  How  could  each  have  evolved  as  a  result  of  natural   selection?
5.
What  types  of  communication  are  animals  capable  of?  What  is  the  evolutionary  significance  of  these   behaviors?  Is  communication  the  same  as  language?  Why?
6.
Learning  can  be  classified  in  many  different  ways.  Fill  in  the  following  table:
Type  of  Learning   Definition   Example   How  this  type  of  learning   capacity  would  increase   survival  probabilities?
Habituation
Spatial  Learning
Cognitive  Maps
Associative  Learning
Cognition  and  Problem
Solving
7.
What  factors  influence  an  organisms  feeding  behavior?  Describe  a  hypothetical  example.
8.
Describe  three  abiotic  or  biotic  factors  that  can  influence  the  mating  behavior  of  animals?
9.
How  can  inclusive  fitness  account  for  altruism  in  species?
10.
How  does  social  learning  differ  from  other  types  of  learning?
Chapter  52
1.
What  are  all  the  factors  described  in  the  text  that  can  explain  differences  in  population  size  and   distribution?
2.
What  is  the  difference  between  density  and  dispersion?
3.
What  are  the  different  dispersion  patterns  and  provide  an  example  (not  from  the  text)  that  illustrates   this  type  of  dispersion  pattern?
4.
What  would  need  to  happen  in  order  for  a  population  to  experience  exponential  growth?
5.
What  is  the  carrying  capacity  and  how  does  it  affect  logistical  growth  patterns?
6.
What  are  abiotic  and  biotic  factors  that  can  affect  the  carrying  capacity?  Which  of  the  previously  listed   factors  are  density  dependent  and  which  are  density  independent?
7.
Create  a  table  to  compare  population  characteristics  for  r-­‐selected  and  k-­‐selected  species.
8.
What  types  of  events  can  cause  fluctuations  in  population  size?

1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
POPULATIONS  EXERCISE  ONE:   PREDATION  OR  STARVATION
Background  Information
In  1960  the  deer  population  of  an  island  forest  reserve  about  200  square  miles  in  size  was  about  2,000  animals.
Although  the  island  had  excellent  vegetation  for  feeding,  the  food  supply  obviously  had  limits.    Thus  the  forest   management  personnel  feared  that  overgrazing  might  lead  to  mass  starvation.    Since  the  area  was  too  remote   for   hunters,   the   wildlife   service   decided   to   bring   in   natural   predators   to   control   the   deer   population.     It   was   hoped  that,  eventually,  natural  predation  would  eliminate  the  weakest  deer,  thereby  preventing  the  herd  from
becoming  too  large,  while  at  the  same  time  increasing  the  quality  of  the  herd.    In  1961,  10  wolves  were  flown   into  the  island.
Formulas
•
(
Δ
N)  =  (births  +  immigration)  -­‐  (deaths  +  emigration)
•
Percent  growth  =  [b  +  i]  -­‐  [  d  +  e]      x  100%
Initial  population
•
Population  Density Dp  =  N/A  or  Dp  =  N/V                 (D  =  Density,  N  =  number  of  organisms,
A=  area,  V  =  volume)
• The  rate  of  change  can  be  calculated  by  the  formula  R  =  D/t              (t  =  time,  D  =  density)
Data
The  results  of  this  natural  predator  program  are  presented  in  the  following  table.
YEAR
1961
WOLF
POP.
DEER
POP.
10   2,000
DEER
OFFSPRING
800
DEATH  BY
PREDATION
400
DEATH  BY
STARVATION
100
CHANGE  IN  DEER
POPULATION  (
Δ
N)
480
640
12   2,300
16   2,500
22   2,360
28   2,244
24   2,094
21   1,968
18   1,916
19   1,962
19   1,982
22   2,012
21   1,987
920
1,000
944
996
836
788
766
780
790
810
825
880
1,120
960
840
720
760
760
834
787
0
0
2
0
240
500
180
26
0
1
5
Procedure
1.
Fill  in  the
Δ
N  for  the   deer  in  the  above  chart.
2.
Draw  a  graph  showing  the  fluctuations  in  the  deer  and  wolf  populations  for  the  nine-­‐year  study  period.

Analysis  and  Interpretation
1.
Using values from your graph, define carrying capacity.
2.
Would it have been better for the ecosystem if more wolves had been introduced in 1961? Why?
3.
Explain why the wolf population declined after 1965.
4.
Explain why there was a negative change in the deer population in 1963 and 1964.
5.
Predict what might have happened if hunters had been allowed to kill half of the wolf population in
1964.
6.
How does the size of the deer population influence the number of wolves on the island? If no hunting is allowed, what natural mechanisms will control the wolf population?
Extension
1.
Using  the  data  from  the  table,  draw  an  age   pyramid  for  the  deer  population.    (Refer  to
page  1154  of  Campbell  text.)
2.   What  percentage  of  the  population  are   fawns  (0-­‐1)?    If  the  percentage  of  fawns  were
65%,  what  would  that  indicate  about  the   growth  of  the  herd?
3.   What  instinctive  behaviour  and  structural   adaptations  are  there  among  animals  to   protect  the  females  in  a  population?    Why?
4.   List  some  causes  for  the  mortality   indicated  in  the  first  two  years  of  life.
AGE  STRUCTURE  OF  HERD  IN
1970
Age
0  -­‐  1
1  -­‐  2
2  -­‐  3
3  -­‐  4
4  -­‐  5
5  -­‐  6
6  -­‐  7
7  -­‐  8
8  -­‐  9
9  -­‐  10
Total
No.  of  deer
♂                       ♀
438
162
422
175
111
75
39
30
26
20
15
1
2,000
151
87
66
58
42
36
27
5

POPULATIONS  EXERCISE  TWO:   FACTORS  CONTROLLING  POPULATION  GROWTH
Background  Information
The  Mara  and  Liota  plains  occur  in  the  Narok  District  in  south  western  Kenya  (see  map).    Adjacent  to  and  lying  to   the  southeast  are  the  Liana  hills  and  plains.    These  three  distinct  regions  are  bordered  on  the  east  by  the  Rift
Valley,  on  the  southwest  by  the  Kenya-­‐Tanzania  border,  and  on  the  northwest  by  the  Siria  Escarpment.    The  area   of  the  Mara  and  Liota  plains  combined  cover  about  4,559  km 2 .
Data
J.  Wildl.  Manage.  50(2):  1986   HERBIVORES  IN  KENYA•Stelfox  et  al
Population  estimates  of  wild  herbivores  for  the  Mara  and  Liota  plains,  Kenya,  1961-­‐1979
Species   1961  (May)   1974  (May)   1977  (May)   1979  (May)   1979  (June)
Blue  wildebeest
Burchell's  zebra
Topi
African  buffalo
Kongoni
Thomson's  gazelle
Grant's  gazelle
17,817
20,567
4,111
5,934
721
84,710
20,412
5,082
10,882
850
11,936
5,204
84,700
34,600
17,900
34,200
5,300
63,300
8,800
101,700
65,200
31,500
30,000
8,900
106,500
19,900
Impala
Eland
African  elephant
750
455
8,692
1,168
1,012
53,900
4,700
1,200
59,200
8,500
700
51,800
4,600
500
Black  rhinoceros   54   84   100   0   0
Totals   50,409   150,032   308,700   432,100   1,438,500
Stewart  and  Talbot  (1962)
Analysis
1.   Considering   the   four   determiners   of   population   density   (natality,   mortality,   immigration   and
2.   emigration),  what  determiner  is  most  responsible  for  the  change  in  population  of  blue  wildebeest  and
Burchell's  zebra  between  May  1979  and  June  1979?
During  the  same  time  (May  1979  -­‐  June  1979)  what  determiner  is  most  likely  affecting  the  eland   population?
3.     What  determiner  is  the  major  cause  for  the  population  change  of  Grant's  gazelle  and  the  Thomson's   gazelle  between  May  1974  and  May  1979?
4.   The  introduction  of  the  disease  called  rinderpest  about  50  years  ago  into  Kenya  eliminated  the  majority   of   cattle,   African   buffalo   and   wildebeest.     By   1962   rinderpest   had   disappeared.     What   effect   did   the   rinderpest  have  on  the  buffalo  and  wildebeest  populations  according  to  the  data  given?
5.   Considering  abiotic  factors,  which  one  may  have  changed  and  is  likely  responsible  for  the  overall  rise  in   numbers  of  animals  on  the  Mara  and  Liota  plains  between  May  and  June  1979?    Explain.
819,500
107,800
25,500
31,500
5,000
90,500
8,500

6.   a)   Calculate   the   population   density   of   Burchell's   zebra,   the   Kongoni   and   Grant's   gazelle   for   May
1979  and  June  1979.
b)   What  is  the  growth  rate  for  these  animals?    Calculate  the  change  in  days  assuming  the  time  span   between  counts  was  30  days.
7.   c)   Considering   population   determiners,   which   of   these   is   playing   a   major   role   when   the   growth   rate  change  is  positive?    When  it  is  negative?
Calculate  the  per  Capita  Growth  Rate  or  biotic  potential  for  the  blue  wildebeest  and  elephant  for  the   time  period  of  May  1977  to  May  1979.
8.   For   the   blue   wildebeest,   from   June   1979   to   June   1980   5,000   calves   were   born;   10,563   animals   died;
4,350  wildebeest  immigrated  into  the  area;  and  2,016  animals  emigrated  out:
a)   Calculate  the  change  in  population  size  ∆  N.
b)   Calculate  the  growth  rate.
c)   What  was  the  population  of  wildebeest  in  June  1980?
POPULATIONS  EXERCISE  THREE:  GROWTH  OF  POPULATIONS
Part  A:  Simulating  Population  Growth
Background  Information
Changes   in   populations   are   controlled   by   four   main   factors:   mortality   (death   rate),   natality   (birth   rate),   immigration,  and  emigration.    Most  populations  are  also  affected  by  various  other  factors  in  their  environment,   such  as  food  supply,  territorial  requirements,  climate,  predation,  and  disease.    Some  of  these  factors  are   density   dependent ,  that  is,  the  effect  of  the  factor  depends  on  the  density  of  the  population.    Many  abiotic  factors,  such   as  fire  or  flood,  are   density-­‐independent  factors  that  affect  population  growth.
The  maximum  population  that  an  environment  can  sustain  is  called  its   carrying  capacity .    Normally,  populations   fluctuate   around   this   carrying   capacity,   with   the   density   of   the   population   exerting   pressure   to   control   the
population.
Problem
How  will  a  population  grow  under  ideal  conditions?
Hypothesis
If  a  population  is  not  controlled  by  density-­‐dependent  factors,  it  will  show  rapid  growth.
Experimental  Design
In   the   real   world,   there   are   so   many   factors   that   influence   populations,   that  it   is   almost   impossible   to   predict   increases   and   decreases   in   populations.     However,   biologists   and   wildlife   managers   must   sometimes   forecast   trends,  and  in  these  situations  the  scientists  must  gather  all  available  data  and  make  their  predictions  based  on   the  factors  that  they  think  will  affect  the  population  size.    Usually,  computers  are  used  to  handle  the  complex   mathematical  calculations  involved  in  simulating  the  conditions  that  affect  population  growth.    However,  for  the   purpose  of  illustration,  you  will  simplify  the  conditions  that  affect  the  hypothetical  population.
Until  1950,  Alberta  was  the  only  province  or  state  in  North  America  that  was  considered  rat  free.    In  that  year,   however,   a   few   rats   were   discovered   along   the   eastern   border   of   the   province.     The   provincial   government

decided  to  try  to  keep  Alberta  rat-­‐free,  and  made  the  destruction  of  rats  a  legal  responsibility  for  every  Albertan.
Every  municipality  was  required  to  appoint  a  pest  control  officer.    Today,  Alberta  is  essentially  rat-­‐free.
The  Norway  rat  (Rattus  norvegicus)  can  reproduce  at  an  incredible  rate.    Litter  sizes  of  10  are  normal,  and  within
three  to  four  months,  the  offspring  start  to  reproduce.
Materials
Graph  paper
Procedure
Imagine  the  following  situation:  One  May,  an  Alberta  farmer  bought  seed  that  was  shipped  in  from  the  U.S.A.  In   the  shipment  was  a  single  female  rat,  which  was  pregnant.  The  rat  hid  in  the  farmer's  barn,  and  immediately  had  a   litter  of  10  offspring,  five  males  and  five  females.  There  was  ample  food  in  the  barn,  no  other  rats  lived  there,  and   there  were  no  predators.  Consider  the  population  of  rats  that  would  result  if  the  following  assumptions  were  true:
Every  three  months,  each  female  rat  produces  10  offspring,  five  males  and  five  females.
All  the  parents  die  after  each  litter  -­‐  only  the  offspring  survive  to  breed  after  three  months.
All  the  offspring  survive  to  reproduce.
There  is  no  immigration  or  emigration.
The  food  supply  remains  unlimited,  and  no  predators  arrive.
Although  these  assumptions  are  unrealistic,  they  tend  to  balance  each  other  (e.g.,  not  all  the  parents  would
2.
die,  but  not  all  the  offspring  would  survive).
1.   Calculate  the  rat  population  over  the  period  of  one-­‐year  (five  litters),  beginning  with  the  first  litter  of  10   rats  in  May.
Graph  the  data  on  graph  paper.
Analysis  and  Interpretation
1.
Describe  the  shape  of  each  graph.
2.
Describe  the  shape  of  each  graph  if  you  extended  the  assumptions  for  another  five  years.
3.
What  letter  does  the  shape  of  the  graph  resemble?
4.
What  term  is  used  to  describe  the  growth  pattern  illustrated  in  this  investigation?
5.
Does  the  rate  of  population  growth  increase?
6.
Do  you  think  this  simulation  is  realistic?    Explain.
Extension
1.   An  Alberta  government  publication  states  that  one  pair  of  rats  could  have  350,000  descendants  in  three   years.    Is  this  possible?
2.
Each   year,   2000   rats   are   destroyed   in   Alberta.     If   these   animals   survived   and   half   were   females   that   produced  litters  of  10  (five  females),  and  if  all  the  animals  survived  to  produce  litters  every  three  months,   how  long  would  it  take  to  get  one  million  rats?
Part  B:  Human  Population  of  Alberta
Purpose
To  determine  the  human  population  growth  in
Alberta.
Procedure
Graph  the  data  on  graph  paper.
Analysis
1.
Does the population of Alberta show the characteristics of exponential growth?

2.
From the slope of the graph, determine when the rate of growth was greatest.
3.
What were the major factors that controlled the population of Alberta?
4.
Alberta is 661,185 square kilometres in area. What is the density of the population in 1901, and 1994?
1901
1911
1921
1931
1941
1986
1991
1994
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
1951
1956
1961
1966
1971
1976
1981
Human  population  in  the   province  of  Alberta
Year   Population
(in  thousands)
2375
2601
2710
2,953.3
3,004.9
3,056.7
3,114.4
3,153.7
939
1123
1332
1463
1628
1838
2237
43
247
588
732
796
POPULATION  EXERCISE  4
1.
Describe in words what this formula states: D=N/A A biologist studied a population of box turtles in an
Ohio wood lot for a period of 10 years. He determined that the natality averaged 40 per year, mortality
30 per year, immigration 3 per year, and emigration 8 per year.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Was the population increasing or decreasing?
Was the area supplying turtles to other areas, or vice versa?
What was the average annual change due to immigration and emigration?
If the initial population was 15 turtles, what was the population at the end of 10 years?
3.
How do we calculate the rate at which a population is changing?
4.
Describe the characteristic form of a line graph that represents the growth of a “new” population in a favourable environment.
5.
Describe the characteristic form of a graph that represents a population in “steady state” or equilibrium.
6.
On  a  range  of  450  hectares  are  a  total  of  1275  jackrabbits.    Studies  indicate  the  following  rates  for  this   population.
Mortality = 2224/ year.
Natality = 3400/ year.
Emigration = 775/ year.
Immigration = 150/ year
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Is the population increasing or decreasing? At what rate? b.
Predict the population at the end of 4 years. c.
What is likely to happen to the population of producers in this area during the 4 years? d.
What is the population density at the beginning of the year and the end of the year?
7.
In  a  certain  year  observations  were  made  of  a  mule  deer  population  on  a  100-­‐hectare  island  off  the  coast  of  B.C.
No. of does, Jan. 1 = 90. No. of bucks, Jan. 1 = 30. Births during the year = 75.
Deaths during the year = 50. No. of deer on Dec. 31 = 155 .
A.
What  was  the  density  of  the  population  at  the  beginning  of  the  year?
B.
What  was  the  density  of  the  population  at  the  end  of  the  year?
C.
What  was  the  effect  of  immigration  and  emigration  on  the  population?
8.
On  October  5,  1999  squirrel-­‐hunting  season  opened.    At  that  time,  biologists  counted  150  squirrels  in  a  woody
region  covering  an  area  of  15  hectares.    One  month  later,  on  November  5,  another  count  was  made  and  it  was   found  that  the  same  woods  had  a  population  of  64  squirrels.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Calculate  the  density  of  squirrels  on  October  5  and  November  5.
Calculate  the  rate  of  change  in  density  of  the  squirrel  population  for  the  one-­‐month  time  period.
Calculate  the  change  in  population  size  of  the  squirrel  population  for  the  one-­‐month  time  period.
Which  factor  was  most  likely  responsible  for  the  change  in  the  population?
9.
In  a  certain  city,  2112  humans  and  2764  rats  populated  an  area  covering  8  square  blocks.    Then  an  Urban
Renewal  Project  was  established  and  the  area  was  cleared  and  redeveloped.    After  the  area  was  reconstructed,   it  had  a  population  of  4960  humans  and  320  rats.
A.
B.
C.
Calculate  the  change  in  density  per  square  block  for  both  populations.
Calculate  the  per  capita  growth  rate  for  humans  in  this  8  square  block  area.
Calculate  the  percent  change  in  population  size  for  both  populations.
10.
A  one-­‐year  study  of  a  jackrabbit  population  was  conducted  in  southern  Alberta  in  a  natural  environment   comprised  of  75  hectares.    The  initial  population  was  found  to  be  1578  jackrabbits.  The  following  data  was   obtained  by  ecologists  studying  the  rabbits  over  one  year:
natality   mortality
1475
1013     immigration   75     emigration   388
A.
Calculate  the  change  in  population  size  and  indicate  whether  the  population  is  increasing  or  decreasing.
B.
What  is  the  rate  of  growth  for  this  population  per  year?    per  month?
C.
Calculate  the  per  capita  growth  rate  for  this  population  over  the  year  of  the  study.
D.
What  was  the  density  of  jackrabbits  at  the  beginning  of  the  study?    At  the  end  of  the  study?
E.
Predict  the  size  of  the  population  at  the  end  of  four  more  years.    Give  reasons  for  your  prediction.
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