Environmental Systems and Societies Predator Pray Lab
Investigating the Effect of Predator Reproduction Rate on Prey and Predator Population
Question
How does the amount of prey a predator needs to survive and to reproduce effect the total population of an ecosystem?
Hypothesis
If there is slower reproductive rate among the predator population, then the prey population will eventually increase. The prey will live and reproduce if it is not eaten by the predator therefore if it becomes more difficult for the predator to multiply the prey have an easier time carrying on in their cycle of life. However, as the prey population increases there are more possibilities for a predator to find food thus making the population even out. The populations will even out a bit more because there will be a higher population density of bunnies thus the wolves will consume at a faster rate than previously.
Materials
100 paper bunnies (small square pieces of paper)
100 Paper Wolves (large square pieces of paper)
1 regular sheet of paper
Variables
Variable
What it is
Units Measured
How can it be controlled
Its effect on experiment
Independent
Reproductive rate of predators
Number
For every test, there should be a set reproductive rate for predators based on the amount of prey they get
The reproductive rate dictates how many wolves are on therefore how many bunnies are on the meadow
Dependent
The amount of prey
Number
For each test, ensure that the amount of prey properly correlates to the number of predators
The amount of prey is directly linked to how the predator can survive
Control
Number of prey produced
Number
For every test, ensure the number of prey increases according to instructions
The number of prey produced are important because they directly affect how the predator survives
Control
Number of Predator Produced
Number
For each test, ensure the number of predator increases according to instructions
The numbers of predators produced are significant because
Question
How does the amount of prey a predator needs to survive and to reproduce effect the total population of an ecosystem?
Hypothesis
If there is slower reproductive rate among the predator population, then the prey population will eventually increase. The prey will live and reproduce if it is not eaten by the predator therefore if it becomes more difficult for the predator to multiply the prey have an easier time carrying on in their cycle of life. However, as the prey population increases there are more possibilities for a predator to find food thus making the population even out. The populations will even out a bit more because there will be a higher population density of bunnies thus the wolves will consume at a faster rate than previously.
Materials
100 paper bunnies (small square pieces of paper)
100 Paper Wolves (large square pieces of paper)
1 regular sheet of paper
Variables
Variable
What it is
Units Measured
How can it be controlled
Its effect on experiment
Independent
Reproductive rate of predators
Number
For every test, there should be a set reproductive rate for predators based on the amount of prey they get
The reproductive rate dictates how many wolves are on therefore how many bunnies are on the meadow
Dependent
The amount of prey
Number
For each test, ensure that the amount of prey properly correlates to the number of predators
The amount of prey is directly linked to how the predator can survive
Control
Number of prey produced
Number
For every test, ensure the number of prey increases according to instructions
The number of prey produced are important because they directly affect how the predator survives
Control
Number of Predator Produced
Number
For each test, ensure the number of predator increases according to instructions
The numbers of predators produced are significant because