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TLBLATIONCHIP¢ IN BCO YB I"BM¢ A¢ IGNMBNT
Part 1: Analyzing Ecological Relationships
4"
Populations in communities interact with one another in many ways. Herbivores for example,
not only compete with one another for food and space, but they also depend upon one another.
In this activity, you will analyze the interdependency of the herbivores of the 5erengeti Plain of
East Africa.
The Serengeti Plain contains the most spectacular concentration of large mammals found anywhere in the
world. A million wildebeest, 600,000 Thomson's gazelles, 200,000 zebras, and
undetermined number of 20 other species of grazing animals occupy this grassland.
African lions and other carnivores prey upon these species.
The dominant grazers of the Serengeti Plain are migratory. They move in response to
rainfall and to the growth of the grasses. The grazers do not always compete with one
another for food. In fact, some species of grazing animals help to increase the food supplies of other species.
Fÿgure t
Grass ferÿgth
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J FMAMJ J ASOND
1989
Thomson's gaz÷fle (16 kg)
240w
Raÿfaÿ!
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1989
Wildebeest (t63 kÿ)
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Zebra (219 kg)
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1989
Use the series of graphs above to answer the questions to .follow.
1. When is the rainy season? What months?
2. Which animals appear in the area first after the rain begins?
3. Which animals follow next?
4. Which animals are the last to return to the area after the rains begin?
5. How is this pattern of grazin8 beneficial to all three species? (HINT: What might happen if all three
grazers where there at the same time)
6. Using the graph, explain why rainfall has such an effect on population size?
7. Which population reaches its highest point when rainfall is at its lowest?
8. Which population has more than one peak?
9. How are the masses of different species related to the patterns shown on the graph?
When zebras graze in a particular area, that area seems to become an especially rich food source
for wildebeests. The same area, after the wildebeest have grazed there, seems to become an ideal food
source for the Thomas's gazelles. To test this apparent pattern, an ecologist performed an experiment. He
fenced off areas of grass to prevent the wildebeest from grazing in them. When the gazelle approached the
area, the ecologist removed the fences. The gazelle fed mostly in the areas whereÿ_ÿ.ÿ
ÿÿ:-ÿ, ÿ,.ÿ,ÿ:, ::ÿ.:ÿÿ,.ÿ
wildebeests had previously grazed and avoided areas in which the wildebeest had ÿ, ÿ,ÿ,ÿ,ÿ ,- :,: ,,ÿ. ÿ,ÿ; ,ÿ,
not grazed.
ÿ:ÿ, ÿ,,ÿ=.=,.-..ÿ
,ÿ?,
10. Predict what would happen to the wildebeests if the zebras disappeared.
11. Predict what would happen to the zebras if the wildebeets disappeared,
12. Predict what would happen to the gazelles if the wildebeests disappeared.
13. Predict what would happen to the wildebeests if the gazelles disappeared.
14. Grass is composed of stems, sheaths (outermost blades of grass), and grass leaves. What might the graph
and the information suggest about the eating habits of the different species?
15. What would happen if all the species ate the same exact parts of the grass or gazed at the same time?
Part 2: Predation and Population Size
16. Define predation:
17. Populations can change in size when new members enter the populations or when members leave the
population. Name two possible reasons why a population size would increase.
18. Name two possible reasons why a population size would decrease.
3.9. Define limiting factor.
20. Give 2 possible examples of limiting factors in an evergreen forest ecosystem:
1960
21. What happened to the wolf population from 2965 to 1969?
22. What happened to the moose population during that same period?
23. Why do you think the moose population increased during those years?
24. What was the size of the moose population by 1974?
25. What was the size of the wolf population that year?
26. What was the size of the wolf population the next year?
27. Why do you think the wolf population increased so much that year?
28. What was happening to the moose population from 2974-1982?
29. What happened to the wolf population from 1980-2982?
30. Why do you think the wolf population declined during that period?
31. What do you think caused the dramatic increase in the moose population between 2986 and 1988?
32. What do you think caused the dramatic decrease in the moose population between 1988 and 1991?
Part 3: Which Symbiosis is it? Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism?
33. Tapeworm and animals: Tapeworms are segmented flatworms that attach themselves to the insides of
the intestines of animals such as cows, pigs, and humans. Tapeworms get food by eating the host's
(animal's) partly digested food, depriving the host (animal) of nutrients.
Tapeworm: [] helped [2harmed []not harmed/not helped
Animals: [] helped 12harmed •not harmed/not helped
Relationship:
34. Spider crab and algae: Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the ocean floor, and greenish-brown algae
lives on the crabs' backs, making the crabs blend in with their environment, and unnoticeable to
predators. The algae get a good place to live, and the crab gets camouflage.
Spider crab: E! helped []harmed •not harmed/not helped
Algae: El helped ÿ2harmed C]not harmed/not helped
Relationship:
35. Remora and the shark: Remora fish are small fish that make their niche by picking up the scraps that
sharks leave behind while feeding. The shark makes no attempt to prey on the remora fish.
Remora: [] helped •harmed Nnot harmed/not helped
Shark: [] helped •harmed 12not harmed/not helped
Relationship:
36. Bee and the flower: Bees fly from flower to flower-gathering nectar, which they make into food. When
they land in a flower, the bees get some pollen on their hairy bodies, and when they land in the next
flower, some of the pollen from the first one rubs off, pollinating the plant.
Bee: @ helped 12harmed •not harmed/not helped
Flower: [] helped Gharmed Lÿnot harmed/not helped
Relationship:
37. Dog and fleas: Fleas mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas bite the dog and
feed on its blood. The flea bites cause the dog to itch and scratch. Fleas can transmit tapeworms and
diseases to the dog.
Dog: [] helped []harmed Gnot harmed/not helped
Flea: [] helped I2harmed •not harmed!not helped
Relationship:
38. Bacteria and the human colon: Bacteria live in the colon of humans and are able to feed off the
indigestible food that the human body cannot break down. In the process of breaking down the food, the
bacteria also make much-needed vitamins that the human body in turn can use to keep healthY.
Bacteria: [] helped •harmed •not harmed/not helped
Colon: [] helped []harmed [2not harmed/not helped
Relationship:
39. Kapoc trees and orchids: Orchids grow high on the branches of the tall kapok trees. This adaptation
allows the orchid to receive enough sunlight to perform photosynthesis; the kapok trees are unaffected.
KapocTree: [] helped L3harmed []not harmed/not helped
Orchid: [] helped Nharmed []not harmed/not helped
Relationship:
40. Mistletoe and silver birch trees: Mistletoe plants grow attached to and penetrate within the branches of
the silver birch tree and absorb water and mineral nutrients from the tree. The mistletoe slows the
growth rate of the tree and could possibly kill it over time.
Mistletoe: [] helped r2harmed []not harmed/not helped
Silver Birch: [] helped []harmed []not harmed/not helped Relationship:
Map Reading Activity: Topography
Topography is the study of elevations on land in relation to each other.
It includes all valleys, mountains, and any sort of rise or dip in the ground.
Topography isshown on a map with lines radiating out from sea level.
The more lines in between sea level and any point, the higher in elevation it is.
These lines are generally called contour lines.
This is a topographic map with contour lines that show points that are on the same level.
10
Williams
10
Jenkins
Hil!
Hill
I
I
I
Here, the two hills are seen from the side, with elevations marked
and dotted lines pointing to the corresponding contour lines.
1. Color the elevations on the topographic map as follows:
50m=Blue, 40m=Red, 30m=Purple, 20m=Yellow, lOm=Green
2. About how tall in meters is Williams Hil!?
3. About how tall in meters is Jenkins Hill?
4.Which peak is taller and by how much?
5. Starting at sea level, how many meters are in between each contour line on the topographic map?
6. Which hill has a steeper slope?
7. Which hill has contour lines closer together?
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