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Date: ________________________
Producers are organisms that do not need to eat other organisms to obtain energy.
A.
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B.
________________________________
C.
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2.
Consumers must eat other organisms for energy. Which organisms are consumers in
Pike: _____
Perch: _____
Stickleback: _____
Waterweed: _____
2.
Click Start. What do you notice about each population as time goes by?
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If populations dont change very much over time, the ecosystem is in equilibrium.
3.
Compare the equilibrium populations of the four organisms. Why do you think populations decrease
1. Observe: Run the Simulation with several different starting conditions. You can use the + or buttons
to add or remove organisms.
2. Form hypothesis: How do you think predator and prey populations affect one another?
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3. Predict: Based on your hypothesis, predict how changing the Stickleback population will affect the other
organisms at first. Write Increase or Decrease next to each Prediction in the table.
Change
Waterweed
Mayfly larvae
Caddisfly larvae
Perch
Pike
Doubling
Stickleback
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Halving
Stickleback
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
4. Test: Add Stickleback until the population is about twice as large as it was (200% of balance). Click Start,
and then Pause (
) after approximately FOUR weeks. Next to each Result line in the table above,
write Increase or Decrease. Click Reset and then halve the Stickleback population (50% of balance).
Record the results for this experiment in the table above as well.
A. How did doubling the stickleback population affect the waterweed, larvae, perch, and pike at
first?
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B. How did halving the stickleback population affect the waterweed, larvae, perch and pike at first?
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(Activity A continued on next page)
5. Predict: Predict how changing the perch and pike populations will affect the other organisms within the
first month. In the tables below, write your predictions.
Change
Waterweed
Mayfly larvae
Caddisfly larvae
Stickleback
Pike
Doubling
Perch
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Halving
Perch
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Change
Waterweed
Mayfly larvae
Caddisfly larvae
Stickleback
Perch
Doubling
Pike
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Halving
Pike
population
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Prediction:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
Result:
6. Test: Click Reset. Try each experiment with the Simulation. Record each result after 4 weeks in the
table aboove.
7. Draw conclusions: In general, what effect did removing prey have on predators?
_____________________
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1. Observe: Kill off all the Pike by setting it to zero, and then click Start. Observe the GRAPH for about 50
weeks, and then click Pause. What happens? Repeat this with the Perch and the Stickleback.
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2. Analyze : Explain why you think the population of each organism changed the way it did.
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3. Experiment: Click Reset. Try making other changes to the ecosystem. Use the + or buttons. Click
Play and observe for at least 50 weeks. Record what happens on another sheet of paper or in your notes.
A major disturbance that the ecosystem was able to recover completely from.
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B.
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C.
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D.
(Challenge) A major disturbance that almost caused a total collapse, but that the
ecosystem was able to recover from eventually.
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