Station Activity Information Station

Students will read a passage and then complete a task to help increase science literacy and deepen their understanding of the science concept. Observation Station

Students will have images, illustrations or actual samples that show application or processes. They will need to apply their observational skills to complete questions. Calculation Station

Students use math skills such as graphing, analyzing data, measurement or calculating using formula Investigation Station

Students will work with one another to explore concepts through hands-on activities/lab work Communication Station

This could involve students in a number of different activities – interviews, videos, making posters or brochures or essays. It is about communicating in different ways to show what they know. Creation Station

Students create models or designs to solve a problem – a STEM type activity

These station activities could form the basis of a DBQ with a culminating writing task. Alternatively they could be used to allow students to demonstrate their mastery of standards in a variety of ways, using their individual learning styles and strengths. Sample Living Environment Station Activity: Ecology Information Station

Types of Predators When large predators, such as lions or wolves, are removed from a food web, smaller “mesopredators” step in to take their places, and the results may be severe. Mesopredators are usually smaller and more numerous than the larger “apex” predators that they replace.

Some are also omnivores, eating plant and animal food sources, rather than eating the meat-only diet of the largest predators. Examples of mesopredators include coyotes, raccoons, and skunks.

In 1874, General George Custer noted that there was an abundance of wolves, but few coyotes, in South Dakota. Today, there is an abundance of coyotes, but no wolves. The wolves were removed to protect domestic sheep, but now the coyotes are often responsible for attacking sheep and other animals. The cost of controlling mesopredators by human intervention can be very high, as mesopredators are very numerous and quickly “bounce back” after control efforts. Meanwhile, the number of apex predators that are endangered continues to increase.

1. Describe how the wolf population is controlled naturally in the environment without human intervention.

2. How do you think the mesopredator population was most likely controlled before the wolves were removed from the food web.

3. If apex predators are so valuable to the ecological balance, why were wolves removed from the food web. Observation Station

Over the past few decades, researchers have observed declining numbers in two species of penguins native to the West Antarctic peninsula. New evidence is pointing to a decline in their food supply as the primary cause for the recent drops in their numbers. These penguins feed on krill, small animals that grow and develop under ice masses. The graphs below show data related to two factors: atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and Antarctic ice mass. The diagram of a generalized Antarctic food web illustrates the role of the penguins.

1. Describe the relationships between CO2 levels and the change in Antarctic ice mass.

2. Explain why the change in ice mass is resulting in a decline in the penguin populations.

3. Describe how humans might have caused the changes in atmospheric CO2 levels. Calculation Station

Problem: What lessons can we learn from the Kaibab deer?

Objectives: 1. to graph data on the Arizona Kaibab deer population from 1905~1939 2. to analyze the possible reasons for the changes in the deer population 3. discuss some changes which would have better suited the Kaibab deer population

Introduction:

The environment may be changed by biotic factors as well as by relationships between organisms and the physical (abiotic) environment. The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum number of organisms that an area can support on a sustained or continuing basis. The population density (number of individuals per unit area) may produce such profound changes in the environment that the environment becomes unsuitable for the continued survival of that species. Humans can also interfere with natural interactions of species with their environments with either positive, negative, or neutral effects. This activity will show how these some of these human interactions influenced a population of deer in Arizona.

In 1905, the deer population on the Kaibab Plateau in Arizona was estimated to be about 4,000 on 300,000 hectares of range. The average carrying capacity of the range was estimated to be about 30,000 deer. On November 28, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve to protect what he called the "finest deer herd in America."

Unfortunately, but this time, the Kaibab forest area was severely overgrazed by sheep, cattle, and horses. Most of the tall, perennial grasses had been eliminated in the area. The first step in protecting the deer was to ban all hunting in the area. Then, in 1907, the Forest Service tried to exterminate the natural predators of the deer, killing approximately 800 mountain lions, 20 wolves, 7400 coyotes, and 500 bobcats between 1907 and 1939.

Signs that the deer population was out of control began to appear as early as 1920. The most important sign was severe and rapid deterioration of range grass and abundance and quality. The forest service then reduced the number of livestock grazing permits to allow more grass for the deer. By 1923, however, the deer were reported to be near starvation and the range conditions were described as "deplorable."

A Kaibab Deer Investigation Committee recommended that all livestock not owned by local residents be immediately removed from the range and that the number of deer in the herd be reduced by 50 percent (culling) as quickly as possible. Deer hunting was reopened and during the fall of 1924, about 675 deer were killed. These deer represented only 10 percent of the number that had been born that spring!

Today, the Arizona Game Commission carefully manages the Kaibab area with regulations geared to specific local needs. Hunting permits are issued and predators are protected to keep the deer in balance with their range so that the herd size does not exceed the carrying capacity. 1. Construct a graph of dear population size (y-axis) vs. year (x-axis) using the data chart (below)

Deer Population of the Kaibab Year # Deer Year # Deer 1905 4,000 1927 37,000 1910 9,000 1928 35,000 1915 25,000 1929 30,000 1920 65,000 1930 25,000 1924 100,000 1931 20,000 1925 60,000 1935 18,000 1926 40,000 1939 10,000

2. During 1906 and 1907, the Forest Service introduced ways to protect the Kaibab Deer? Were these methods successful? Explain using data from the graph.

3. What was the relationship of the deer herd population size and the carrying capacity of the range in

 1915  1920  1924

(Explain your answer using NUMBERS from the data chart or graph.)

4. Why do you suppose the population of deer declined in 1925 although the elimination of many predators occurred?

5. Why do you think the deer population size was 4000 in 1900 when the carrying capacity was actually 30,000 deer?

6. If the Forest Service had not interfered with the deer population, what do you think would have happened to the deer population?

Investigation Station

Deer: Predation or Starvation Introduction: In 1970 the deer population of an island forest reserve about 518 square kilometers in size was about 2000 animals. Although the island had excellent vegetation for feeding, the food supply obviously had limits. Thus the forest management personnel feared that overgrazing might lead to mass starvation. Since the area was too remote for hunters, the wildlife service decided to bring in natural predators to control the deer population. It was hoped that natural predation would keep the deer population from becoming too large and also increase the deer quality (or health), as predators often eliminate the weaker members of the herd. In 1971, ten wolves were flown into the island.

The results of this program are shown in the following table. The Population Change is the number of deer born minus the number of deer that died during that year. Fill out the last column for each year (the first has been calculated for you).

Deer Wolf Deer Deer Year Predation Starvation Population Population Population Offspring Change 1971 10 2,000 800 400 100 +300 1972 12 2,300 920 480 240 1973 16 2,500 1,000 640 500 1974 22 2.360 944 880 180 1975 28 2,224 996 1,120 26 1976 24 2,094 836 960 2 1977 21 1,968 788 840 0 1978 18 1,916 766 720 0 1979 19 1,952 780 760 0 1980 19 1,972 790 760 0

1. Graph the deer and wolf populations on the graph below. Use one color to show deer populations and another color to show wolf populations. Analysis

1. Describe what happened to the deer and wolf populations between 1971 and 1980.

2. What do you think would have happened to the deer on the island had wolves NOT been introduced?

3. Most biology textbooks describe that predators and prey exist in a balance. This "balance of nature" hypothesis has been criticized by some scientists because it suggests a relationship between predators and prey that is good and necessary. Opponents of this hypothesis propose the following questions:

Why is death by predators more natural or "right" then death by starvation? How does one determine when an ecosystem is in "balance"? Do predators really kill only the old and sick prey? What evidence is there for this statement?

What is your opinion of the balance of nature hypothesis? Would the deer on the island be better off, worse off, or about the same without the wolves? Defend your position. Communication Station

Your job is to build a food web from the following predator/food menu. The number of arrows give you a hint at the number of links.