Lesson 1.3 - Other Populations 

You have learned a lot about the burrowing owl in the last lesson.  The same principles apply to other animal populations. 

To refine your understanding of the concepts of population changes answer all the questions in Check Your Understanding on page 257 in your textbook.  

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. Your answers will vary, but here are some sample answers.

Individual: A moose, a deer, a person.
Population:  100 moose in the county of Barrhead in 2005.

Question 2. The descriptions are missing some important information.

        1. The time is not given, it is usually the year.
        2. The time is not given.
        3. The location or area is not given.

Question 3. To calculate the rate of change, you need to calculate the change in the population and the number of years over which the change occurred; then, divide the change in population by the number of years.

        1. Change in population:  15 wolves - 30 wolves = -15 wolves
          Number of years: 1940 - 1930 = 10 years
          Rate of change: (-15 wolves)/(10 years) = -1.5 wolves per year
          This is a decrease of 1.5 wolves per year.
        2. Change in population:  10 falcons - 4 falcons = 6 falcons 
          Number of years: 1990 - 1970 = 20 years
          Rate of change: (6 falcons)/(20 years) = 0.3 falcons per year

Question 4. Your answers may vary.  Very likely, human activities had an impact on both populations.  The wolf population may have been affected by changes in the habitat because of road construction, cottage development, commercial tourist development, logging, resource development such as oil and gas wells, excessive hunting, and other possible reasons.  The peregrine falcon population increased because of human intervention.  The birds are protected, nesting sites are built, and veterinary care is provided.

 

Now, do Assignment 13A.  Page forward to access the computer-scored assignment.