WAN LUTFIAH AISYAH BINTI WAN ROSLI 2/6/2021

Name:_________________________________________Date______

Deer: Predation or Starvation?

Introduction: In 1970 the deer population of an island forest reserve was about 2000
animals. Although the island had excellent vegetation for feeding, the food supply obviously
had limits. Thus, the forest management personnel feared that overgrazing might lead to
mass starvation. Since the area was too remote for hunters, the wildlife service decided to
bring in natural predators to control the deer population. It was hoped that natural
predation would keep the deer population from becoming too large and also increase the
deer quality (or health), as predators often eliminate the weaker members of the herd. In
1971, ten wolves were flown into the island.
The results of this program are shown in the following table. The ​population change​​ is the
number of deer born minus the number of deer that died during that year. The herd population started at 2000 when
this study began.
● Calculate the number of deaths ​(predation + starvation).
● To determine the deer population change, subtract the number of deaths from births ​ (births - deaths)​​, this can
be a positive number, indicating growth, or a negative number which indicates a population decline.
● Calculate the deer population by adding/subtracting the population change from the population the year before
● The first row (1971) has been completed for you as an example.
● Graph the deer and wolf populations as two lines (color and label)

Wolf Deer Number of Deer Population Deer

Year Predation Starvation
Population Births deaths Change Population
1970 starting population, data unknown for prior year. 2000
1971 10 800 400 100 500 +300 2300
1972 12 920 480 240 720 +200 2500
1973 16 1,000 640 500 1140 -140 2360
1974 22 944 880 180 1060 -136 2224
1975 28 996 1,120 26 1146 -130 2094
1976 24 836 960 2 962 -126 1968
1977 21 788 840 0 840 -52 1916
1978 18 766 720 0 720 +36 1952
1979 19 780 760 0 760 +20 1972
1980 19 790 760 0 760 +20 1992

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Analysis
1. Describe what happened to the deer population between 1971 and 1980.
The deer population between were increased until it reached a maximum at 2500 and then began to decrease until reached
a minimum at 1916 and once again increased until it reached 1992.

2. When was the wolf population the highest? What is the relationship between the number of wolves and the number
of deer?
The wolf population is the highest during 1975 where it reached 28. The relationship between the number of wolves and the
number of deer is when the number of wolves is increased, the number of deer increased.
3. What do you think would have happened to the deer on the island had wolves NOT been introduced?
In my opinion, if the wolves not been introduced, the population of the deer on the island will grow larger and larger. This might
cause starvation if the food was all used up due to the increasing population of the deer.

4. Zero population growth occurs when a population has the same number of individuals entering the population (births)
as those leaving the population (deaths). This results in very little change in the overall population numbers. In which
year, was the deer population closest to ZPG? How do you know?
On 1979. This is because the difference between the number of deer births and the number of deaths is most closely compared to
other years by differing only in 20 numbers.

5. Most biology textbooks describe that predators and prey exist in a balance. This "balance of nature" hypothesis has
been criticized by some scientists because it suggests a relationship between predators and prey that is good and
necessary. Opponents of this hypothesis propose the following questions:
▪ Why is death by predators more natural or "right" then death by starvation?
▪ How does one determine when an ecosystem is in "balance"?
▪ Do predators really kill only the old and sick prey? What evidence is there for this statement?

What is your opinion of the balance of nature hypothesis? Would the deer on the island be better off, worse off, or
about the same without the wolves? Defend your position.
A balanced ecosystem is one in which birth and mortality rates are about equal, and the population is at a level that the
ecosystem can sustain for an extended length of time. Predation is preferable than starvation because starvation indicates
that the ecosystem is out of balance and cannot generate enough food to feed all of the deer. If there are too many deer in an
ecosystem, they might devour all of the food, and www.biologycorner.com if all of the food is gone, there are possibility that all the
deer will die and potentially resulting in extinction. On the other hands, predators do kill and consume deer but they only do so in
order to survive. Predation kills fewer deer than famine does, and it does not result in the extinction of all deer or the entire collapse