It's time to design your own investigation. Your investigation will be a simulation of the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations in an ecosystem. So far, you have observed students model competition between wolves for water, prey, and space. You read about a similar investigation that modeled the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition. You learned how graphs can help display and interpret data. You will use all these ideas as you design your own simulation.
Research Question:
How does resource availability affect the population size and distribution of organisms in an ecosystem?
Hypothesis:
I predict that when resources are limited, competition between organisms will increase, leading to a decrease in population size and a more dispersed distribution of individuals within the ecosystem.
Materials:
- Simulation software or physical resources for modeling competition
- Access to data collection tools (such as graphing software)
Procedure:
1. Set up a simulation model that represents an ecosystem with a limited amount of resources (such as food, water, or space).
2. Introduce a population of organisms (such as wolves or rabbits) into the ecosystem.
3. Monitor the population size and distribution of organisms over a period of time.
4. Manipulate the availability of resources in the ecosystem (e.g. by adding or removing resources) and observe the effects on the population.
5. Record your observations and data using graphs to visualize changes in population size and distribution.
Data Analysis:
- Use graphs to display the changes in population size and distribution over time.
- Analyze the data to identify patterns and trends in how resource availability affects the organisms within the ecosystem.
- Compare the results of different resource availability scenarios to draw conclusions about the impact of competition on population dynamics.
Conclusion:
Based on the results of the simulation, draw conclusions about how resource availability influences the interactions between organisms and populations within an ecosystem. Consider implications for biodiversity, species interactions, and ecosystem stability.
It's time to design your own investigation. Your investigation will be a simulation of the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations in an ecosystem. So far, you have observed students model competition between wolves for water, prey, and space. You read about a similar investigation that modeled the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition. You learned how graphs can help display and interpret data. You will use all these ideas as you design your own simulation.
choose a question to investigate
Designing any investigation starts when you ask a question. Think back to some of the questions you generated about how the original simulation could be expanded. Choose one of these questions or think of a new one.
List materials
What materials will you need to perform your simulation? Make a list of these and take time to gather them all before you begin.
You might need:
beans of different colors
a timer
cups or bags
pencil
paper
write out a procedure please
Question:
How does the availability of different resources affect the competition between organisms in an ecosystem?
Materials:
- Beans of different colors (representing different resources)
- Timer
- Cups or bags
- Pencil
- Paper
Procedure:
1. Set up the simulation by labeling the cups or bags with the names of different resources (e.g. water, food, shelter).
2. Use beans of different colors to represent each resource. For example, black beans can represent water, red beans can represent food, and green beans can represent shelter.
3. Divide the beans evenly among the cups or bags to represent an equal availability of resources in the ecosystem.
4. Introduce a population of organisms (represented by different colored beans) into the ecosystem.
5. Start the timer and observe the competition between organisms for the available resources. Record the interactions and outcomes on paper.
6. After a set period of time, redistribute the beans among the cups or bags to represent changes in resource availability (e.g. increase/decrease in water, food, shelter).
7. Repeat the simulation multiple times with different resource availability scenarios to observe the effects on competition between organisms.
8. Use the data collected to create graphs showing the changes in resource availability and population dynamics.
9. Analyze the results to draw conclusions about how resource availability influences competition and population dynamics in an ecosystem.
This simulation will help to understand how the availability of resources can impact the interactions between organisms within an ecosystem and how competition for limited resources can affect population dynamics.
write the procedure as if you were doing this
Procedure:
1. Gather all the materials needed for the simulation, including different colored beans representing resources, a timer, cups or bags, a pencil, and paper.
2. Label the cups or bags with the names of different resources (e.g. water, food, shelter).
3. Divide the beans evenly among the cups or bags to represent an equal availability of resources in the ecosystem.
4. Introduce a population of organisms (represented by different colored beans) into the ecosystem.
5. Start the timer and observe the competition between organisms for the available resources. Record the interactions and outcomes on paper.
6. After a set period of time, redistribute the beans among the cups or bags to represent changes in resource availability (e.g. increase/decrease in water, food, shelter).
7. Repeat the simulation multiple times with different resource availability scenarios to observe the effects on competition between organisms.
8. Use the data collected to create graphs showing the changes in resource availability and population dynamics.
9. Analyze the results to draw conclusions about how resource availability influences competition and population dynamics in an ecosystem.
Remember to carefully observe and record the interactions between the organisms and how changes in resource availability impact their competition and survival within the ecosystem.
can you write another one
Procedure:
1. Gather the necessary materials for the simulation, including colored beads or buttons to represent different resources, containers to hold the resources, a timer, paper, and markers.
2. Label each container with the name of a different resource (e.g. water, food, space).
3. Divide the colored beads or buttons evenly among the containers to represent an equal distribution of resources in the ecosystem.
4. Select different colored beads or buttons to represent different species of organisms and distribute them randomly in the ecosystem.
5. Start the timer and observe the interactions between the organisms as they compete for resources. Record the interactions and outcomes on paper.
6. After a specific time period, redistribute the resources among the containers to simulate changes in resource availability (e.g. increase/decrease in water, food, space).
7. Repeat the simulation with various resource availability scenarios to observe how it affects competition and population dynamics.
8. Use the data collected to create graphs or visual representations to analyze the changes in resource availability and population distribution.
9. Analyze the results to draw conclusions about how resource availability influences competition and population dynamics in the ecosystem, considering factors such as species diversity, population size, and distribution patterns.
no i mean write another question
Question:
How does the presence of invasive species affect competition for resources among native organisms in an ecosystem?