Ian Collins

11/30/22

Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to:
-Analyze graphs to determine the population size of two marine species.
-Explain how predation, birth, and death rates impact marine populations.
-Describe how biotic and abiotic factors influence marine populations.

Materials
1) The Population Dynamics Virtual Lab Activity
2)Population Dynamics Lab Report
Variables
Prey Initial Size: The starting number of prey.
Prey Growth Rate: The birth rate of the prey. The larger the growth rate, the faster the
prey population will increase.
Predator Initial Size: The starting number of predators.
Predator Death Rate: The death rate of the predators. A larger death rate means
predators will die out quicker.
Capture Efficiency: This number represents the ability of the predator to capture the
prey over some time interval. A larger value for this parameter means that the
predators have a better chance of capturing prey.

Hypothesis
1) If the starting population of the prey is higher than the predators, the resulting
population of the seals will be higher than the population of the whales.
3) If the prey growth rate increases, the resulting population of the seals will be higher
than the population of the whales. (Both starting populations set to 25.)
2) If the starting population of the predators is higher than the prey, the resulting
population of the whales will be higher than the population of the seals.
4) If the death rate of the whales increases, the resulting population of the seals will be
higher than the population of the whales. (Both starting populations set to 25.)

Table 1: Prediction and carrying capacity

Starting Seal Starting Whale Highest Seal Highest Whale
population population population population
Trial 1 25 25 50 55
Trial 2 100 25 65 190
Trial 3 25 200 160 180

Table 2: Growth rate and capture efficiency

Seal birth rate Whale birth rate Highest Seal Highest Whale
population population
Trial 1 0.05 0.005 50 55
Trial 2 0.09 0.005 55 75

Table 3: Death rate and capture efficiency

Whale death Whale capture Highest Seal Highest Whale
rate efficiency population population
Trail 1 0.05 0.005 50 55
Trail 2 0.09 0.005 70 55

1) Using Table 1, which of the three trials produced the highest population for both
the whales and the seals? Why do you think this trial had the best outcome for the
whale and seal populations?
The increased seal population had the greatest gain for both the whale and seal
populations, as whales had seals to feed off of and seals in turn had time to reproduce.
2) Using Table 2 and 3, explain how the birth rates of the seals and the death rates of
the whales affected the population for both whales and seals.
The relationship between the whales and the seals is very little more than a seesaw.
When the whale population dwindles, the seals are able to reproduce in large numbers;
and when the seal population increases, the whales have an aquatic buffet, ensuring
that they do not run out of food and starve to death.
3) Predict how a reduction in habitat could change the capture efficiency of the killer
whales. How would this affect the carrying capacities for both the whales and the
seals?
The whales carrying capacities will increase, as the seals are driven from their habitat.
The seals will be easier to devour now that they have less habitat, and without seals
around the whale population will die off, too.
4) If another source of prey were available to the whales, what changes in population
size would you expect for the seals and the whales?
With a new food source, both the seals and whales would prosper. Whales would not
need to focus on consuming only seals, so while the whales get twice the food, the seals
do not suffer as-heavy casualties.
5) Does the seal and killer whale relationship represent a sigmoid or peak
phenomenon?
The seal and killer whale relationship represents a sigmoid pattern, due to both species
having a carrying capacity that they can't return to once hitting max point. It is because
of this that the populations will suffer and start to drop.
6) What are the limitations of the population dynamics lab? Is the lab activity a
realistic representation of an arctic marine ecosystem?
This lab is limited to the relationship between the killer whales and the seals, and as
such cannot be a lab that represents the relationship between any and all species that
rival one another.