Lesson 4: Competition Between Populations Preview CT-STEM

Making Sense of Your Data

You have separately examined the effects of predators and competing species on a bug population. However, in real ecosystems it is typical that both predators and competing species will be present at the same time. In the next scenario you will examine the behavior of the bug population when both of these are present.

Before moving on to that exploration, answer the questions below and think about your observations from the earlier activities.

Referenced Questions

These questions were answered in the previous steps. They are provided here for your reference.

Question 2.1

Estimate the carrying capacity of the bugs when birds are present.

Question 4.2

Estimate the carrying capacity of the bugs when invaders are present.

Questions

Please answer the questions below.

Question 5.1

Did adding predators or adding invaders have a stronger effect on the carrying capacity of the bugs?

Predators lower carrying capacity more
Invaders lower carrying capacity more
Predators and invaders lower carrying capacity just about the same

Question 5.2

Please try to explain this observation in terms of birth and death rates.

Question 5.3

How many ecological niches do you think are present in this ecosystem? Which species fall into each niche?

Question 5.4

How do you think these niches influence the competition between the populations?

Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.