EcologyPredator-Prey Lab

Ecology studies organisms and nonliving things and how they interact with each other

Ecologists study ecosystems.Ecosystem – all the organisms

in a given area, along with nonliving factors with which they interact

Biotic factors – livingAbiotic factors - nonliving

Ecosystem Structure

CommunityPopulationSpecies

Ecologists specialize and study one of these structures.

Population Ecology

Individuals in a population– Rely on the same resources– Are influenced by the same environmental factors– Are likely to interact and breed with one another

Population ecology is concerned with– Changes in population size– Factors that regulate populations over time

Populations are characterized by:

Density Dispersion

Predator-Prey Lab: Group of (5)

Create a habitat for mice and fox. Use beads and plastic container to create the habitat.

Will be simulating a predator and prey relationship Read instructions carefully.

Post Lab: Using expected data to analyze predator-prey interactions within the community Use the Sample Data Sheet and graph the results on the graph

paper provided by your teacher. Graph the initial prey population and the initial predator population neatly and carefully.

Answer the questions 1-3 using the Sample Data: 1. Which population (predator/prey) shows the first increase

in numbers? Explain your answer. 2. Does a peak in the mice population come at the same

time as, after a peak or before a peak in the fox population? What is the explanation for this?

3. What factor seems to determine the size of the mice population in the meadow in any given generation? Fox population?

How does this lab relate to the situation in Australia with the Cane Toads?

Population Growth

Factors that affect population growth are called “population limiting” factors.

Population limiting factors can be: Density independent –

Density dependent -

Population Trends

Now complete Lab 4 “How can you show a population trend? Complete Parts B, C and E