Squirrel Lab
Problem
How does competition between invasive and native squirrels affect the population?
Research
Hypothesis
The population of Red Squirrels will decrease when the invasive more fit grey squirrels are introduced into teh ecosystem over time.
Conclusion Questions
1. It was easier for the Red Squirrels to find resources when there were not many Red squirrels and lots of resources. It was hardest to find resources when there were a lot of predators, Red squirrels, and Grey squirrels.
2. Organisms in the same population compete for resources when there are a lot of them and not enough resources.
3. Resources are affected by competiton when there are too many squirrels. The squirrels take a lot of the resources and not many are left.
4. To avoid extinction, the native squirrels would have to be better at finding nuts and become more fit and aggresive. They would also have to increase their population more and get different or get better niches.
2. Organisms in the same population compete for resources when there are a lot of them and not enough resources.
3. Resources are affected by competiton when there are too many squirrels. The squirrels take a lot of the resources and not many are left.
4. To avoid extinction, the native squirrels would have to be better at finding nuts and become more fit and aggresive. They would also have to increase their population more and get different or get better niches.
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning
Claim: Competition between invasive and Native squirrels will cause the population of the Red Squirrels to go down.
Evidence: The Red squirrels were thriving before the Grey squirrels were introduced into the ecosystem. There were 87 Red squirrels when there were no Grey squirrels, but when there were 178 Grey Squirrels there were no Red squirrels at all. The average population of the red squirrel population was about 68 while the average population of the Grey squirrels was about 70.
Reasoning: Since the average population of the Grey squirrels was 2 more than the Red squirrel population, we know that competition will decrease the population of the Red Squirrels. The predators also started to kill the red squirrels becasue they sensed they were weak.
Evidence: The Red squirrels were thriving before the Grey squirrels were introduced into the ecosystem. There were 87 Red squirrels when there were no Grey squirrels, but when there were 178 Grey Squirrels there were no Red squirrels at all. The average population of the red squirrel population was about 68 while the average population of the Grey squirrels was about 70.
Reasoning: Since the average population of the Grey squirrels was 2 more than the Red squirrel population, we know that competition will decrease the population of the Red Squirrels. The predators also started to kill the red squirrels becasue they sensed they were weak.