© Clark Creative Education Wild Animal

Conservation Relations, Patterns & Ideal Unit: Functions Time Range: 3-5 Days Supplies: Pencil & Paper

Topics of Focus:

- Creating Functions from Patterns

- Rate of Change

- Proportions

Driving Question “How can conservation efforts save endangered species?” Culminating Experience A conservation plan Common Core Alignment:

o Construct a function to model a linear relationship between two quantities. Determine the rate of change and initial value of the function from a description of a relationship or from two (x, y) 8.F.4 values, including reading these from a table or from a graph. Interpret the rate of change and initial value of a linear function in terms of the situation it models Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function (presented symbolically or as a F-IF.6 table) over a specified interval. Estimate the rate of change from a graph.★ F-BF.1 Write a function that describes a relationship between two quantities.★

F-LE.5 Interpret the parameters in a linear or exponential function in terms of a context. Interpret the slope (rate of change) and the intercept (constant term) of a linear model in the S-ID.7 context of the data.

Procedures:

A.) In “Animal Tracking”, students will practice proportions and use animal tracking mathematics to estimate the size of a population.

B.) In “Endangered Species or Invasive Species?”, students will analyze patterns, write functions and predict the future. The population data is from the IUCN and WWF; however, numbers were slightly adjusted to make it an authentic pattern assignment.

C.) In "Surviving Extinction”, students will use data to analyze pre-conservation and post-conservation data to answer questions about once critically endangered species.

D.) In “Wild Animal Conservation”, students will put on their zoologist hat and be given Population Patterns to write functions and use a Counting Method to estimate if conservation efforts have been effective. For each animal species, students will analyze their calculations. To conclude, students will write a report to the IUCN articulating their research and their identified areas of greatest concern and areas of positive reinforcement.

* Aspects of the project can be completed independently. The entire project does not need to be completed to have a great learning experience, though it is suggested because it will best scaffold the skills and context.

In order to determine the conservation status of a species, its population must be estimated. This of course is an inexact science because the animals will not line up and allow researchers to count them. Two methods often used to estimate wildlife populations are Indirect Counting and Capture & Release. Each of these strategies involve solving proportions. Use the results of the research to estimate the population of the species.

Background: One of the world’s most unique creatures, the pangolin, is a mammal covered with scale-like armor. Thousands of pangolins are hunted by poachers each year, which leaves their current population in Pangolin question. This is also a challenge to figure out because pangolins are rarely seen because they like to hide.

Indirect Counting

A group of researchers divided the pangolin’s Asian habitat into smaller regions. The researchers chose a small region and determined after a week of observations that there is anywhere from 45 to 70 pangolins in the region. They estimate that the region they studied is 1/16 of the area of the entire pangolin habitat. Estimate the number of pangolins in the entire habitat.

Background: Due to dams, fishing nets and pollution, the South American river dolphin population is in steep decline. Researchers are concerned with how many River Dolphin currently live in the Amazon River.

Capture & Release

Researchers safely captured 16 river dolphins and placed a painless tag under their flipper. These river dolphins were quickly returned to the water. Two weeks later, the researchers captured 21 dolphins and found that 3 of them had been tagged. Estimate the number of river dolphins in the Amazon.

© Clark Creative Education Background: The Grevy’s zebra is often poached for their striped skins. However, the greatest concern of the zebra is the number of watering holes that have dried up. Now, Grevy’s Zebra more than ever before, they are forced to compete with many animals for the resources. Zoologists divided the Grevy’s zebra’s African habitat into smaller regions. The zoologists chose to patrol a 1,900 mi2 region of the habitat and counted 312 zebras in the area. They estimate that the entire Grevy’s zebra’s habitat is 14,200 mi2. Estimate the number of Grevy’s zebra in the entire habitat.

Follow-Ups: 1) In 2012, there were 2,447 Grevy’s zebra in the world according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). How has the estimated Grevy’s zebra population changed since then?

Background: Due to rampant habitat destruction in the 1970s, there was a sharp decrease in the bald eagle population. Laws were passed to protect the bald eagle across the United States. The laws were successful and in 2006 the bald eagle was Bald Eagle removed from the endangered species list. Conservationists safely tagged 140 bald eagles around the talon. Conservationists set up live bait around the habitat to attract the eagles. Of the 980 eagles that they observed, 9 of them had tags. Estimate the number of bald eagles in the area.

Follow-Ups: 1) In 2012, there were an estimated 14,000 bald eagles in the wild according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. How has the estimated bald eagle population changed since then?

© Clark Creative Education Background: Also known as the “painted wolf”, African wild dogs have lost a considerable portion of habitat African Wild Dog due to human development and are frequently killed because of their perceived threat to livestock.

Researchers divided the African wild dog’s Researchers safely captured and tagged 38 habitat into regions. The researchers chose a African wild dogs around the ankle. One month region that was approximately 2/15 of the later they captured 52 wild dogs and 3 had the entire habitat. During the day, they counted 93 tag. Estimate the number of African wild dogs in wild dogs in the area. Estimate the number of the area. African wild dogs in the entire habitat.

Follow-Ups: 1. Propose a population range of wild dogs based on your research.

2. If there were 660 African wild dogs in 2012, how has the estimated African wild dog population changed since then?

Background: One of the most beloved mammals on Earth, the polar bear, has endured dramatic changes to its habitat. Due to climate change, substantial portions of sea ice have been lost and polar bears have been considered a threatened species since Polar Bear 2008.

Zoologists chose a region of the polar bear’s Zoologists safely captured and tagged 325 habitat that was approximately 3,000 km2. They polar bears. Three weeks later they found 639 counted 13,500 polar bears in the area and polar bears and 2 had the tag. Estimate the estimated that the entire polar bear range was number of polar bears in the area. 50,500 km2. Estimate the number of polar bears in the entire habitat.

Follow-Ups: 1. Propose a population range of polar bears based on your research.

2. If there were 225,000 polar bears in 2012, how has the estimated polar bear population changed since then?

The dodo bird, Stellar’s sea cow and every single dinosaur are examples of species that no longer are among us. Extinction is a real possibility and is the threat of any endangered species. However, it is not the only problem. An invasive species can be equally problematic. An invasive species is a species that is introduced by humans to a new habitat. While this sometimes has little effect, it can dynamically shake up the ecosystem. If an invasive species has no natural predators in its new habitat or competes for a limited food source, it can cause species that were otherwise fine to go extinct.

For each species, use the table of population figures to determine a pattern, write a function and use the function to predict the future. Please note these are strictly estimated population figures due to the challenges of determining exact populations of wildlife.

Background: Considered the symbol of the African savannah, the giraffe has recently gone from a Giraffe conservation status of safe to threatened after severe habitat loss.

Population Pattern Year 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 Years Since 0 3 x Population 140,000 125,000 110,000 95,000 80,000

Follow-Ups: 1. Based on the trend, what is the expected giraffe population in 2020?

2. If the rate of change continues this way, when will the giraffe population be extinct?

3. Describe the rate of change. What does it mean?

© Clark Creative Education Background: A New York business man released 60 European starlings that he received as a present in 1890. Now the population is estimated to have eclipsed 2,000,000 birds. Starlings have pushed out native species, regularly disrupt Starling airplanes and cost millions of agricultural loss each year.

Population Pattern Year 1890 1920 1950 1980 2010 2040 Years Since 0 30 x Population 60 27,060 216,060 729,060 1,728,060

Follow-Ups: 1. Based on this pattern, what would the starling population be in 2020?

2. Based on this current growth rate, when would the starling population eclipse 10,000,000?

Background: In 1996, the first case of devil facial tumor disease was diagnosed and has subsequently Tasmanian Devil ravaged the Tasmanian devil population ever since.

Population Pattern Year 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 2018 Years Since 0 x Population 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000

Follow-Ups: 1. Based on the trend, will the Tasmanian devil population dip below 50,000 by 2020?

2. The Tasmanian devil population would be considered critically endangered when it reaches 20,000. Based on the current rate of change, when would this happen?