Name:_Thin Htet Htet Aung_ Date: _9.06.

2022__ Period: _______

Fox and Rabbit Lab: Limits to Population Growth

Objective: This activity will illustrate how a population is dependent on limiting factors. A
limiting factor is factor that causes the growth of a population to decrease. In this lab we will be
simulating a meadow in which there is a population of rabbits and a population of foxes. The
rabbits feed on the grass while the foxes prey on the rabbits. The meadow can only support a
maximum of 100 rabbits. This is due to the carrying capacity of the meadow. Carrying capacity
is the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within the natural resources
limits.

Materials: Fox and Rabbit cards, table top (the meadow), data table and graph.

Instructions: READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN!!

1. STEP 1:
a. Create a meadow. Tape off a 61 cm square section on your table top.
b. Start with 3 rabbits in the first generation. Place them in the meadow.
c. Start with 1 fox in the first generation.
d. Standing 2 feet from the desk, toss the fox into the meadow.
e. If the fox touches the rabbit they are considered “captured” and must be
removed from the meadow.
f. For a fox to survive it must capture 3 rabbits, it not, it dies of starvation and
must be removed from the meadow.
2. STEP 2:
a. Repeat Step 1 going through a maximum of 15 generations.
3. STEP 3:
a. Create a line graph using the graph paper provided.
b. Make sure to label according to the directions.
4. Additional Rules:
a. For every 3 rabbits that the foxes capture, the fox reproduces 1 pup. This pup
is added to the next generation.
b. Each fox must be tossed one at a time into the meadow.
c. A rabbit cannot be shared by 2 foxes.
d. Each time there are no foxes left for the next generation, 1 new fox immigrates
into the meadow.
e. To calculate the next generation of foxes: (number to old foxes + pups = new
generation). If no foxes left see letter d above.
f. To calculate the next generation of rabbits: (multiple remaining rabbits by 2). The
meadow can only support a MAX of 100 rabbits, any beyond that will starve.
g. If all the rabbits are captured then 3 new ones will immigrate into the meadow.
Name:_Thin Htet Htet Aung_ Date: _9.06.2022__ Period: _______

RABBITS
A B C D E F G
Total for next Starved = Next
Start (must be < Remaining generation (D # > than generation
Generation than 100) Captured (B-C) x 2) 100 (E-F)
1 3 0 3 6 0 6
2 6 1 5 10 0 10
3 9 0 9 18 0 18
4 15 1 14 28 0 28
5 29 0 29 58 0 58
6 55 2 53 106 6 100
7 99 9 90 180 80 100
8 99 17 82 164 64 100
9 99 34 65 130 30 100
10 99 52 47 94 0 94
11 95 62 33 66 0 66
12 69 42 27 54 0 54
13 49 14 35 70 0 70
14 73 48 25 50 0 50
15 49 3 46 92 0 92

FOXES
H I J K L
Starved (If eat <2 Alive (H- Next Generation or Immigration
Start rabbits) I) New Pups Born (old + new pups)
1 0 1 1 1
2 1 0 0 1
3 3 0 0 1
4 4 0 0 1
5 5 0 0 1
6 6 0 0 1
7 6 1 1 2
8 6 2 2 4
9 7 2 2 4
10 7 3 3 6
11 6 5 5 10
12 5 7 7 14
13 4 9 9 18
14 9 5 5 10
15 12 3 3 6
Name:___Thin Htet Htet Aung _____ Date: ___9.06.2022____Period: _______

Graph your results- use the number at the START of each generation for box
FOXES and RABBITS. USE A LINE GRAPH.

• Label the y-axis: number of animals

• Label the x-axis: generations
• Use one color line for rabbits and one color for foxes and include a key
• Put a TITLE on your graph
No. of Generations

No. of Animals

Lab Analysis

1.
In this activity, which animal is the predator? ___Fox___
2.
In this activity, which animal is the prey? _________Rabbit____________
3.
Which animal population increased first? ______Rabbit____________
4.
What is a limiting factor (define)?
A limiting factor is whatever confines the development of population and makes it slow down or
stop growing.

5. What was the limiting factor for the fox population? _The number of rabbits (prey)____
6. What was the limiting factor for the rabbit population? __The number of foxes (predators) ____
7. As the rabbit population increased, what happened to the fox population?
__It also increases.________
 8. Define carrying capacity.
The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum number of people it can support over a long
period of time, and population density influences population size.
9. What is the carrying capacity for rabbits in the meadow? _100 rabbits___