Isle royale population simulation the wolves and m. Use dual yaxes to show the trend, since moose numbers are so much greater than wolf numbers. John fieberg, university of minnesota, department of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, st. The contribution to ungulate population growth generally differs between. The population of wolf and the population of moose are independent of each other they do not affect each other. Predation or starvation loudoun county public schools. After collecting the data, the students will plot the data and then extend the graph to predict the populations for several more generations. Some of the worksheets displayed are lab population ecology graphs, population ecology graph work, the pop ecology files activity 8, pop ecology files, population ecology graph work answers pdf, ecology work and answers, population community ecosystem work name, p f800gs repair manual pdfpictures to tell a story in. Welcome to the official page of the isle royale wolf and moose project, based out of michigan. As of 2018, wolves are being released at isle royale in hopes of bringing back the wolf population. The peaks in each population tend to follow each other and not coincide. A case study of trophic interactions and population change by gary m.
This research represents the longest continuous study of any predatorprey system in the world. What factors influence the size of the wolf and moose populations on isle royale. The geographic range is the area in which a population lives. Response of moose hunters to predation following wolf return in. Wolves have also instilled fear into humans for a long time. Isle royale, an island in lake superior, is the site of the longest continuous predatorprey study in the world. In 1958, one of the longest wolf moose interaction studies began. As the population of wolves increased between 1975 and 1980, the population of moose declined. Using these data, they try to understand what factors cause the moose and wolf populations. Intro to ecology the wolves and moose of isle royale are known worldwide, and they are the focus of the.
Nelson and others published the isle royale wolfmoose project. If there were no wolves on the island, what would determine the number of moose. Modified from the wolf, the moose, and the fir tree by gary m. Isle royale national park is an island archipelago a chain of islands located on lake superior in michigan.
For over 50 years researchers from michigan technological university have been studying the relationship between wolves and moose on isle royale, located in the middle of lake superior. If there were no wolves on the island, what would determine the number of moose on the. What would happen to the wolf population if the moose population decreases. Moose wolf population graph answer keypdf free pdf download now. Though there was an increase in wolf resources, other factors such as disease prevented the wolf population growth. Describe the pattern between the wolf predator population in relation to the moose prey population. The pattern used to describe the wolf and moose population is the boom. The gray wolf was added to the endangered species list in 1973. Historically, a pack of about 25 wolves has lived on the island. The moose population will decrease as there are more predators hunting it. The rapidly growing wolf population began to decrease the deer population through predation. Moose population estimates during 19592001 were based on population reconstruction from recoveries of dead moose, whereas estimates from 2002.
Identify a factor, other than moose population, that has influenced the wolf population in isle royale. If the moose population increased beyond the fir tree population. Ecological studies of wolves on isle royale figure 1. You will use the population data to graph the interaction between wolf populations and moose populations at. Factors limiting moose population growth in subunit 20e alaska. Moose population density in subunit 20e declined drastically. Actual data of wolves and moose on isle royale over time. Studies of wolf predation patterns have accentuated the age and sex of the moose killed, other prey species, effect of snow depth and hunting success. As a result of this, the wolf population saw significant growth over the next years while the deer population steeply declined. Add the graph of the wolf and moose population sizes to the poster too over the past 50 years. The winter kill rates have been calculated for each. These wolves are the sole predator of the moose, and moose represent 90% of. Look back at the graph of the wolf and moose populations you created yesterday to answer the following questions. Over time, notice as the wolf population declines, the moose population increases and vice versa.
Wolves became nearly extinct in the conterminous 48 states in the early part of the 20th century. Topdown population control is evident in the populations of both the moose and the wolves. The wolves of isle royale biology article for students. The populations of wolves and moose on isle royale constantly adjust as food availability, weather, and seasons affect the health and reproduction of the animals. Moose population estimates during 19592001 were based on population reconstruction from recoveries of dead moose, whereas estimates from. Ecology lab wolf conservation predators and prey on isle royale. Is the island royale a stable ecosystem for the wolf and moose populations. The isle royale wolf population typically comprises between 18 and 27 wolves, organized into three packs. Isle royale population simulation worksheet copy round.
The isle royale wolfmoose project george wright society. The moose of isle royale displaying top 8 worksheets found for this concept some of the worksheets for this concept are isle royale predator prey cycle, isle royale lab, moose wolf population graph answer key, population community ecosystem work name, lab population ecology graphs, name limiting factors work, ecology lab wolf conservation predators and prey on. After collecting the data the students will plot the data and then extend the graph to predict the populations for several more generations. Gray wolf biology questions and answers 1 why was the gray wolf listed as endangered. The moose population tends to increase in years with mild winters, early spring greenup, abundant winter forage, low wolf numbers and low levels of tick. Wolf and moose populations on isle royale graph the following data of the wolf and moose population on isle royale. The wolf population the wolves and moose of isle royale. We concluded mortality from predation had a substantial additive component during the lowdensity phase and wolf predation on adult moose was less additive than grizzly bear predation. Since 1958, scientists have monitored the islands wolf and moose populations. Ecological studies of wolves and moose on isle royale. Isle royale population simulation the wolves and moose of isle royale have been studied for more than five decades. Definitive tests of the predationlimiting hypothesis are not possible unless programs to reduce grizzly bear and wolf predation are effective.
We examined the effect of wolf predation on hunter harvest of moose. In this activity, students will simulate the interactions between a predator population of gray wolves and a prey population of deer in a forest. Page 1 of 3 2 phenomenal image educator materials the wolves of isle royale how to use this resource the image for this resource, a sequence of three images showing wolves hunting moose on isle royale, an island. Purdue university began an ambitious 10year study of the wolf moose. Eventually the wolf population will decrease because it will run out of moose to eat bonusthe moose population may also decrease if the population becomes too high for the amount of food available, as happened at isle royale in the 1990s 7. The wolves and moose of isle royale are known worldwide, and they are the focus of the longestrunning study of a predatorprey system in the wild. This graph tells a great deal about how wolf and moose populations are. The isle of royale wolf and moose population is so famously studied as the wolf will only hunt for the moose and the moose only has one true predator which is the wolf. Displaying top 8 worksheets found for the moose of isle royale. Which statement below accurately describes the wolf and. At low moose population sizes, the number of wolves tends to drop.
The wolf is one of several that scientists have released in isle royale national park in the past year. There they found a huge population of moose that had eaten most of the available food, and many of whom were severely undernourished. The moose are likely to repeat the pattern from the 1930s, decimating their diet of. Moose population estimates during 19592001 were based on population reconstruction from recoveries of dead moose, whereas estimates from 20022017 were based on aerial surveys. Both species are relatively recent arrivals to isle royale moose apparently swam to the island and established a population in the early 1900s, and wolves. Moose wolf populations 19592009 wolves moose 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009 2500 2000 1500 500 0 50 40 30 20 10 0 figure 1. The wolf and moose populations are interacted with each other as they have a predatorprey relationship. Wolf, moose, fir tree wolf moose and the fir tree part i 1 what type of correlation positive or negative would you expect to see between the. What was the wolf population when the moose population the greatest. According to the graph above the greatest population of moose was in the year 1995 with a total of 2500 moose. Isle royale predatorprey cycle hazleton area school. Population ecology graph worksheet moose wolf population graph answer key. Infer the carrying capacity of wolves on the island. That is, a new wolf population would now have to be reestablished if wolves are to remain an ecological force on isle royale.
Wolf and moose fluctuations, isle royale national park, 19592009. Moosewolf populations 19592009 wolves moose 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009 2500 2000 1500 500 0 50 40 30 20 10 0 figure 1. What is the present day wolf population in minnesota. However, the following graph is a simulation of the isle royale moose and wolves populations. The wolves have been subject to inbreeding and carry a spinal deformity. The moose population usually numbers between 700 and 1,200 moose. The right x axis should be in increments of 500, from. Population ecology yellowstone elk worksheet answer key. Year wolf population deer population deer offspring predation starvation deer population change. If there arent enough moose for the wolf to hunt, what do you think will happen to the wolf population. This activity explores images of wolves hunting a moose on isle royale, which serve as phenomena for. The left y axis should be in increments of 10, from zero to 50 for the wolves. Add this question in large print to top of the isle royale case site poster. Wolf and moose predator prey relationship in isle royal.
Landmark project celebrates 50 years of tracking wolves and moose on a protected archipelago in michigans lake superior. Observations were made on the interrelations between wolf canis lupus and moose alces alces in 194981. What can we learn about predatorprey relationships from isle royale. Moose population estimates during 19592001 were based on population reconstruction from recoveries of dead moose, whereas estimates from 20022017 were based on. Predation on moose and caribou by a regulated wolf population. Is the rate of population growth constant or variable. Fortier page 3 part ii trophic system data th e data in figure 1 include census information for the moose and wolf populations, ring width indices from fi rs on each end of the island, and actual evapotranspiration rates aet from april to october.
What would most likely happen to the moose population if the wolf were all killed by humans. For balsam fir, growth and survival studies indicate that the species continues to decline toward extinction on the islands west half, while fir on the. Both species are relatively recent arrivals to isle royale moose apparently swam to the island and established a population in the. You will use the population data to graph the interaction between wolf populations and moose populations at isle royale. Which statement below accurately describes the wolf and moose. Isle royale national park the wolves and moose of isle royale isle royale is located in the northwest portion of lake superior. Some of the worksheets for this concept are isle royale predator prey cycle, isle royale lab, moose wolf population graph answer key, population community ecosystem work name, lab population ecology graphs, name limiting factors work, ecology lab wolf conservation predators and prey on isle, isle royale. Without wolves, the alreadylarge moose population is on track to double in the next few years. But over the past decade, their numbers have steadily declined.
It would likely decrease because of the reduction of their food source. Park officials first observed wolves on the island in the 1940s after they crossed an icebridge from canada. Park officials first observed wolves on the island in the 1940s after they crossed an. At the same time, the islands moose population has skyrocketed. If the moose habitat is threatened, the moose population will ultimately suffer. The wolves of isle royale phenomenal image hhmi biointeractive. These starving moose were easy prey for the wolves. Currently, the wolf population is down to two individuals, making their local extinction likely. The relationship between wolves and moose on isle royale has been the subject of the longest predatorprey research study, begun in 1958. On isle royale, wolf and moose population sizes can directly influence one. Which statement below accurately describes the wolf and moose populations over the 40 year period. Mortality during the past year 4 percent was exceptionally low, and a total of five pups were raised in two packs.
The result is that increased predation rate has no effect on prey growth rate panel a. Over time, notice as the wolf population declines, the moose population. Around 1950, and just as the moose were rebounding, wolves crossed a frozen lake. Reevaluating the northeastern minnesota moose decline and. Populationecologygraphworksheet rennel 34m7em7kem46. Welcome to the wolves and moose of isle royale the. Moose wolves the wolf population continued to increase during the past year, from 25 to 29 wolves, and in 2000 it was higher than at any point since 1980 fig. The wolves and moose on isle royale became a kind of natural experiment for studying population ecology, and in particular, predatorprey dynamics. This activity explores images of wolves hunting a moose on isle royale, which serve as phenomena for learning about predatorprey population dynamics. Moose comprise more than 90% of the biomass in wolf diet. Pdf wolves, moose, and tree rings on isle royale researchgate.
The wolves and moose of isle royale michigan tech predator and prey, a delicate dance new york times fluctuating wolf and moose populations on isle royale. A balanced ecosystem is one in which the birth and death rates are roughly equal and that the population is at such a level that the ecosystem can support that number over a very long period of time. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Minnesota has the largest wolf population in the continental united states. Fortier department of small animal science delaware valley college introduction isle royale national park, the largest island in lake superior. Factors limiting moose population growth in subunit 20e. The wolf moose project of isle royale, now in its 55th year, is the longest continuous study of any predatorprey system in. Fluctuating wolf and moose populations on isle royale. View homework help isle royale population simulation worksheet copy from bsc 2005 at university of florida. Ecology lab wolf conservation predators and prey on isle. Aug 12, 2011 for over 50 years researchers from michigan technological university have been studying the relationship between wolves and moose on isle royale, located in the middle of lake superior. Population ecology graph worksheet fall river public a.
Wolf and moose populations oth the wolf and moose populations are censured annually in the winter by aerial observations. Moose would go unchecked and increase to a point and then decrease due to other limiting factors. Pdf investigation of tree growth in isle royale national park in michigan revealed. Identify a factor, other than moose population, that may have influenced wolf populations. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, john a vucetich and others published should isle royale wolves be. We conducted computer simulations of different periodic sampling designs with a goal to estimate winter wolf predation on moose and caribou with acceptable accuracy and precision using no more than 45 total survey days. Describe the pattern of the wolf predator population in relation to the moose prey population. Intro to ecology the wolves and moose of isle royale are known worldwide, and they are the focus of the longestrunning study of a predatorprey system in the wild. Can the island support an infinite number of moose. The isle royale wolfmoose project is the longest continuous study of a. Wolf, moose, fir tree wolf moose and the fir tree part i.
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