Name:______________________________________Period:______

Wolf and Deer Lab: Predation or Starvation?

Introduction: In 1970 the deer population of an island forest reserve about 518
square kilometers in size 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 total deer that died during that year. Fill out the
last column for each year (the first has been calculated for you).
Deer Deer
Wolf Deer Deer Died Deer Died
Year Offspring Population
Population Population (Predation) (Starvation)
Born Change
1971 10 2,000 800 400 100 +300
1972 12 2,300 920 480 240
c260
1973 16 2,500 1,000 640 500
140
1974 22 2.360 944 880 180
1975 28 2,224 996 1,120 26
I16
1976 24 2,094 836 960 2
150
126
1977 21 1,968 788 840 0
1978 18 1,916 766 720 0
52
46
1979 19 1,952 780 760 0
20
1980 19 1,972 790 760 0
1. Graph the deer and wolf populations on the graph. Use one color to show deer
30
populations and another color to show wolf populations. Include a color-coded key.

oo
wolf
beer
Analysis
1. Describe the pattern between the populations of the deer and wolf populations between 1971
and 1980. What is the cause of this pattern?
It rose decreases then leveled out
2. What do you think would have happened to the deer on the island had wolves NOT been
introduced?

Thedeer would die to starvation

3. Between which years did the deer experience exponential growth and how did this affect the
population of the wolf?
1971 1973the deer increased along with the wolves

4. During which years did the deer population crash and what affect did the wolf population have
on the crash.
1973,1978 was the Yeas the deers crashed along with the
wolves
5. Describe the pattern observed in the deer population (be sure to mention the type of growth

The growth would be

curve -exponential or linear).
a curve inthe dee
population
6. Describe the pattern observed in the wolf population (be sure to mention the type of growth

The
curve -exponential or linear).
growth would be a cane in the wolf
population as well
food
7. What factor limits the population growth of the deer? ______________________________

The amount of deer

8. What factor limits the population growth of the wolves? ____________________________

9. Name at least 3 additional limiting factors that could affect the population growth of either
deer or the wolves.

water
________________________ land Space
________________________ disease
________________________

Conclusion
In 4-5 complete sentences, describe what you learned about the factors that affect the size of
predator and prey populations. Be sure to use your vocabulary words!

when it comes to predatorand pay populations there

is going to be a number of that affect the
factors

size of the populations 0he being competition competition

allows other predators to go tothe same pie as another predator Another onebei
carrying capacitynow thiseffects howmuch space the animals willhave
to eat hunt drink and move Finally limitedlesouces come into play being
thatthereis onlysomany resources animals have to eat and this will eece
is
howbig that population
Extension (on a separate sheet of paper)
It is a criticism of many population ecologists that the pattern of population increase and
subsequent crash of the deer population would have occurred even if the wolves were not
introduced. Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Explain your reasoning.