Fishery Simulation Lab
Collaborators- Sam Freeman
Abstract- The simulator was used to see how the population growth and carrying capacity of fish would be affected by certain limiting factors. Factors such as amounts of food, reproduction, death rate, fishing rates, and others were manipulated to attempt to get different results. It was observed that when limiting factors that hinder the populations (death rate, predators, and fishing) were lowered, and factors that benefit populations (food, and reproduction) are at the highest, the population growth and carrying capacity were at the highest. And if manipulated in reverse, the population growth and carrying capacity would be at its lowest.
Problem- How is population growth and carrying capacity affected by various factors in the environment.
Hypothesis- If we change the limiting factors, the population growth and carrying capacity will be affected by it because it will allow the fish to grow easier or with more difficulty.
Parts of Experiment- Dependent- the population growth and carrying capacity.
Independent- the different factors that can be manipulated.
Control- the unaltered growth rate and carrying capacity.
Materials- Computer with internet connection
Methods- 1. Go to this link: http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/fishery_sim.html
2. Work with your partner to follow the tutorial in the simulation to familiarize yourself with how the simulation works.
3. Go through each stage and explore what happens to the population as you change the different variables.
4. Record your observations of what happens to the sustainability of the population.
Data- The simulation allowed manipulation of these factors: Reproduction, migration, death, predators, food, and fishing. Altering these conditions resulted in a change from the normal population growth. Raising the factors such as reproduction, migration, and food allowed for the population to grow faster and have a higher carrying capacity, and raising the other factors such as death, predators, and fishing hinder population growth and lower the carrying capacity. The carrying capacity and population growth was highest (at carrying capacity of >100k within 3 years) when reproduction, migration, and food were at the maximum, and when death, predators, and fishing were at the minimum. Carrying capacity and population growth were lowest (at carrying capacity of < 3k within a year) when death, predators, and fishing were at the maximum, and when reproduction, migration, and food were at the minimum. Disease also occurred randomly as populations got too high as a density dependent factor and lowered populations. Pollution was also a random factor and lowered populations severely.
Abstract- The simulator was used to see how the population growth and carrying capacity of fish would be affected by certain limiting factors. Factors such as amounts of food, reproduction, death rate, fishing rates, and others were manipulated to attempt to get different results. It was observed that when limiting factors that hinder the populations (death rate, predators, and fishing) were lowered, and factors that benefit populations (food, and reproduction) are at the highest, the population growth and carrying capacity were at the highest. And if manipulated in reverse, the population growth and carrying capacity would be at its lowest.
Problem- How is population growth and carrying capacity affected by various factors in the environment.
Hypothesis- If we change the limiting factors, the population growth and carrying capacity will be affected by it because it will allow the fish to grow easier or with more difficulty.
Parts of Experiment- Dependent- the population growth and carrying capacity.
Independent- the different factors that can be manipulated.
Control- the unaltered growth rate and carrying capacity.
Materials- Computer with internet connection
Methods- 1. Go to this link: http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/fishery_sim.html
2. Work with your partner to follow the tutorial in the simulation to familiarize yourself with how the simulation works.
3. Go through each stage and explore what happens to the population as you change the different variables.
4. Record your observations of what happens to the sustainability of the population.
Data- The simulation allowed manipulation of these factors: Reproduction, migration, death, predators, food, and fishing. Altering these conditions resulted in a change from the normal population growth. Raising the factors such as reproduction, migration, and food allowed for the population to grow faster and have a higher carrying capacity, and raising the other factors such as death, predators, and fishing hinder population growth and lower the carrying capacity. The carrying capacity and population growth was highest (at carrying capacity of >100k within 3 years) when reproduction, migration, and food were at the maximum, and when death, predators, and fishing were at the minimum. Carrying capacity and population growth were lowest (at carrying capacity of < 3k within a year) when death, predators, and fishing were at the maximum, and when reproduction, migration, and food were at the minimum. Disease also occurred randomly as populations got too high as a density dependent factor and lowered populations. Pollution was also a random factor and lowered populations severely.
Data analysis- The simulation supported the hypothesis as the population growth and carrying capacity for the fish were affected by the manipulation of the different limiting factors. However, certain limiting factors do have different effects on populations when put on high amounts. Reproduction and migration lets populations recover from death, predators, and fishing. Food allows the fish to feed and live comfortably or uncomfortably depending on the amount that there is. However, pollution can come into effect randomly and decimate the population and always has a negative effect.
Conclusion- There are many different factors that can help or hinder populations of organisms. Limiting factors in an environment determine the amount of organisms that can possibly live there and limit how fast their population grows. Limiting factors don't just come from the environment; they can come from man-made sources as well and can affect populations. Pollution and habitat size are some of these factors. Whether the populations go up or down, in nature, the population normally levels out at the carrying capacity unless human factors get involved ("Limiting Factors").
Citations-
"Limiting factors." NatureWorks. 2013 New Hampshire Public Television , n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013. <http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12a.htm>
Conclusion- There are many different factors that can help or hinder populations of organisms. Limiting factors in an environment determine the amount of organisms that can possibly live there and limit how fast their population grows. Limiting factors don't just come from the environment; they can come from man-made sources as well and can affect populations. Pollution and habitat size are some of these factors. Whether the populations go up or down, in nature, the population normally levels out at the carrying capacity unless human factors get involved ("Limiting Factors").
Citations-
"Limiting factors." NatureWorks. 2013 New Hampshire Public Television , n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013. <http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12a.htm>