ecosystem choice: Woodlands
You are carrying out a simulation to help you better understand how populations in an ecosystem are affected by competition.
You will decide whether you want the competition to be intraspecific (between organisms of the same species) or interspecific (between organisms of different species. The organisms will be competing for the same resources. You will need to choose at least two organisms below (if you choose to do intraspecific competition, you will need to use two of the same organisms. For example, mountain lion 1 and mountain lion 2).
In order to simulate competition in a woodland ecosystem, let's choose two organisms: white-tailed deer and gray wolves.
If you opt for intraspecific competition – competition between organisms of the same species – you will need to select two white-tailed deer, for instance, deer 1 and deer 2. In this scenario, both deer will be competing for the same resources within the woodland ecosystem.
If you prefer interspecific competition – competition between organisms of different species – you will need to choose one white-tailed deer and one gray wolf. In this case, the deer and the wolf will be competing for the same resources, such as food and habitat, within the woodland ecosystem.
Whether you choose intraspecific or interspecific competition, studying the dynamics and impacts of competition can provide valuable insights into how populations in an ecosystem are affected and can help us better understand the balance and interactions within the woodland ecosystem.
can you do it for me? I don't understand :C
Of course! I apologize for any confusion. Let me provide you with an example simulation considering both intraspecific and interspecific competition in a woodland ecosystem.
1. Intraspecific Competition:
Let's consider two white-tailed deer, Deer 1 and Deer 2. In this case, both Deer 1 and Deer 2 will be competing for the same resources such as food, water, and shelter within the woodland ecosystem. The simulation will help you understand how the population of white-tailed deer can be affected when individuals of the same species compete for resources.
2. Interspecific Competition:
Now, let's consider one white-tailed deer, Deer 1, and one gray wolf, Wolf 1. In this case, Deer 1 and Wolf 1 will be competing for the same resources within the woodland ecosystem. The simulation will help you understand how the interactions between different species, in this case, white-tailed deer and gray wolves, can impact their populations and the overall ecosystem dynamics.
In both scenarios, you can observe the effects of competition on the population densities, distribution, and potential changes in the ecosystem due to resource availability. Analyzing these simulations may help you gain a better understanding of how competition can shape and impact populations in a woodland ecosystem.
I choose Intraspecific Competition,
instructions:
You will decide whether you want the competition to be intraspecific (between organisms of the same species) or interspecific (between organisms of different species. The organisms will be competing for the same resources. You will need to choose at least two organisms below (if you choose to do intraspecific competition, you will need to use two of the same organisms. For example, mountain lion 1 and mountain lion 2).
The table below shows the bean types and number (which represent food) the organism needs to survive for the season.
Set up your ecosystem: Select a bowl or a small container to represent the ecosystem.
Add the resources to your ecosystem:
The resources (in this case, food) that your organisms will compete for are represented by the different colored beans–black beans, pink beans, white beans.
You will need 20 of each color
If you do not have to use beans. You can use coins, colored cereal, marbles, colored pieces of paper, etc.
Whatever you use to represent your resources, you must have 3 types, and each type should have its own specific color.
Mix your resources together.
Choose your species: Select a tool that will represent the two organisms that will be competing for resources.
The tool is what your organism will use to pick up its food.
Choose a spoon, a fork, tongs, etc. (If you are choosing to do intraspecific competition, you will need to choose two of the same tools.)
Set a timer for 1 minute (Each trial will take 1 minute)
You will need to conduct at least 2 trials or seasons to allow each organisms an opportunity to gather resources.
During the trial, focus on gathering as many resources as possible for the organism one-by-one and write down what you gathered in the table under the Data Collection section of your lab report.
Understood! Let's proceed with the intraspecific competition simulation in a woodland ecosystem using beans as the resources.
Ecosystem Setup:
1. Select a bowl or a small container to represent the ecosystem.
2. Obtain three types of beans, such as black beans, pink beans, and white beans, and mix them together.
- You will need 20 beans of each color.
Organism Selection:
1. Choose a tool, such as a spoon, fork, or tongs, to represent the organisms competing for resources.
- Since we are focusing on intraspecific competition, you will need two of the same tools.
For example, you can use two spoons.
Experiment Procedure:
1. Set a timer for 1 minute for each trial or season.
2. During each trial, use the two spoons (representing the organisms) to gather resources (beans) one-by-one from the ecosystem.
3. Note down the number of each colored bean gathered by the organisms in a data collection table in your lab report.
Data Collection:
1. Write down the number of black beans, pink beans, and white beans gathered by the organisms in each trial.
2. For example, in Trial 1, Spoon 1 gathered 8 black beans, 5 pink beans, and 7 white beans, while Spoon 2 gathered 10 black beans, 4 pink beans, and 6 white beans.
Repeat the experiment for at least 2 trials or seasons, allowing each organism an opportunity to gather resources.
By recording and analyzing the data collected from each trial, you can observe how the competition between the organisms (represented by the spoons) affects their ability to gather resources. This simulation will help you understand the impact of intraspecific competition on populations in a woodland ecosystem.
what about in trial two?
Apologies for the oversight. Here's how you can approach Trial 2 in the intraspecific competition simulation:
Continue from where you left off after Trial 1 in the data collection table. The table should have columns for the number of black beans, pink beans, and white beans gathered by each organism (represented by the spoons) in each trial.
Trial 2:
1. Reset the timer for 1 minute.
2. Using the same process as in Trial 1, use the two spoons to gather resources (beans) from the ecosystem.
3. Note down the number of each colored bean gathered by the organisms (Spoons 1 and 2) in Trial 2 in the data collection table.
For example, let's say in Trial 2, Spoon 1 gathered 6 black beans, 3 pink beans, and 8 white beans, while Spoon 2 gathered 9 black beans, 6 pink beans, and 5 white beans.
Make sure to include the data from Trial 2 in the table alongside the data from Trial 1. By having multiple trials, you can observe any patterns or changes in resource gathering and better understand the impact of intraspecific competition on the organisms' ability to gather resources in the woodland ecosystem.
The Earth has only so many trees. There are only so many fish in the oceans. The amount of soil and freshwater is limited. Of course, trees can grow back, and fish can lay more eggs. Still, humans must be careful not to use Earth’s resources too quickly. Well, experts say we are doing just that.
An environmental group called Global Footprint Network (GFN) studies how humans use the planet’s resources. Those include plants, animals, and land. And GFN has bad news for nature. It said August 22 was Earth Overshoot Day for 2020. That means humanity has already used as much from nature as the planet can renew in the entire year.
This has been happening faster and faster over the years. In 1970, Earth Overshoot Day was in late December. Fifty years ago, it took until the very end of the year to use the amount of resources that the planet made in 12 months. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, the date kept pushing forward. It moved up to November... and October... and September... and August.
In 2018 and 2019, Earth Overshoot Day took place in July for the first time. This year, the date is back in August — more than three weeks later. That means we are using resources less quickly than in the past. But it’s not because we are being more careful. It is because of the coronavirus. As countries locked down around the globe, people used fewer resources — such as by cutting down fewer trees and burning less fuel.
Even with the slowdown from the virus, humans are still using more resources than 1.5 Earths could provide. And, of course, we cannot magically make the world a larger place. Many countries are also using more resources than others; if the whole world used resources like the United States of America, for example, then Earth Overshoot Day would have been back on March 14.
Mathis Wackernagel founded the Global Footprint Network. “We only have this one planet,” he said. “Most children understand that.” But he told News-O-Matic the problem: “Many adults, though, live as if this was not true.” Wackernagel called this “not healthy” for the Earth.
Laurel Hanscom, the leader of GFN, said this is “diminishing the planet for the young people.” Hanscom said, “Young people should have the right to as good a planet as the one the adults got when they were kids.” She added: “This is why many young kids have become the most effective leaders to speak up for protecting our planet.”
At the age of 15, Greta Thunberg began her school strike for the climate two years ago in Stockholm, Sweden. Last year, millions of young people joined her in protest. They carried signs and marched on the streets in cities around the world. They took actions to lower their use of Earth’s resources — and they told their leaders that they’d better listen.
Maybe you were one of them. Perhaps you are helping by reducing the amount of fuel you burn, eating less meat, or using less plastic. If so, you know that every single action you take makes a difference. You can move the Earth Overshoot Day — and make it later in the year. If we work together, we can make sure our world has enough resources for everyone.
“Looking after the planet is not just a nice and noble thing for children to do,” Hanscom told News-O-Matic. “It is essential for their future.” Hanscom called this issue “a fundamental cause — a cause we can and must win.”
The coronavirus has handed humans many difficult lessons. Yet it has also taught us something important. We can use less. We can be smarter about how we use Earth’s resources. We have the power to do this — it’s in our hands.
In your own words, describe the relationship between limited resources in an ecosystem and competition among organisms in that ecosystem. (This should be 1-2 complete sentences.)
The background information is based on the MyOn article that you read and the background information found in the presentation.
The relationship between limited resources in an ecosystem and competition among organisms in that ecosystem is that organisms within the ecosystem must compete with each other for those limited resources in order to survive and thrive. This competition can be intraspecific, between organisms of the same species, or interspecific, between organisms of different species.
Question you are
answering/Problem
you are addressing:
Your response needs to be about competition, limiting factors, carrying capacity, or even scarcity. This question is something you come up with based on the vocabulary terms listed above. This question or problem is not found in your lesson it is based on what you know.