Squirrel Lab
Problem: How does competition between native and invasive squirrels affect population size?
Research: Grey squirrels are faster and stronger than red squirrels. Red squirrels are also reasonably smaller and weigh less. Each litter of red squirrels contains about 3 or 4 young. In a grey squirrels litter, there is normally from 2-6 young.
Hypothesis: The population of red squirrels will decrease when the invasive, more fit grey squirrels are introduced into the ecosystem over time.
Research: Grey squirrels are faster and stronger than red squirrels. Red squirrels are also reasonably smaller and weigh less. Each litter of red squirrels contains about 3 or 4 young. In a grey squirrels litter, there is normally from 2-6 young.
Hypothesis: The population of red squirrels will decrease when the invasive, more fit grey squirrels are introduced into the ecosystem over time.
Conclusive Questions
1. It was easiest for the native red squirrels to find resources before the invasive grey ones came along. It was hardest when they had to compete with the larger, faster, invasive grey squirrels.
2. Organisms compete for resources when they have the same niche and when there are less resources.
3. When there is competition, more resources get consumed at a faster rate because there are more mouths to feed, and more organisms to shelter.4. The squirrels might need to adapt and turn to some other food source besides nuts. Over time, they might start to eat grass or different plants.
2. Organisms compete for resources when they have the same niche and when there are less resources.
3. When there is competition, more resources get consumed at a faster rate because there are more mouths to feed, and more organisms to shelter.4. The squirrels might need to adapt and turn to some other food source besides nuts. Over time, they might start to eat grass or different plants.
Claim Evidence and Reasoning
Claim: The population of red squirrels went down while the grey squirrels' population went up.
Evidence: In the first five years the average population of red squirrels was 125 and the average population of the grey squirrels was 0. In the second five years the average population of red squirrels was 100 and the average population of grey squirrels was 7. In the third five years the average population of red squirrels was 42 and the average population of grey squirrels was 100. In the final five years the average population of red squirrels was 6 and the average population of grey squirrels was 173.
Reasoning: There was a significant drop in the population of red squirrels. The average population went down from 125 to 6. The population of red squirrels rapidly decreased as the population of grey squirrels rapidly increased. The population of grey squirrels shot up from 0 to 173. The faster, and better adapted grey squirrels made it hard for the red squirrels to gain resources and survive. Another cause of the decrease was the increase of predators in the area which peaked at 38.
Evidence: In the first five years the average population of red squirrels was 125 and the average population of the grey squirrels was 0. In the second five years the average population of red squirrels was 100 and the average population of grey squirrels was 7. In the third five years the average population of red squirrels was 42 and the average population of grey squirrels was 100. In the final five years the average population of red squirrels was 6 and the average population of grey squirrels was 173.
Reasoning: There was a significant drop in the population of red squirrels. The average population went down from 125 to 6. The population of red squirrels rapidly decreased as the population of grey squirrels rapidly increased. The population of grey squirrels shot up from 0 to 173. The faster, and better adapted grey squirrels made it hard for the red squirrels to gain resources and survive. Another cause of the decrease was the increase of predators in the area which peaked at 38.