Squirrel Lab
Problem: How does competition between native and invasive squirrels affect population size?
Hypothesis: The population of red squirrels will decrease when the gray squirrels are introduced into the ecosystem over time.
Independent variable: Time
Dependent variable: Population
Research:
Hypothesis: The population of red squirrels will decrease when the gray squirrels are introduced into the ecosystem over time.
Independent variable: Time
Dependent variable: Population
Research:
- Red Squirrel is an omnivore and is from the rodent family.
- Red squirrel eats seeds, nuts, berries, and young shoots.
- Red squirrels has less memory power than the Gray squirrels.
- Red squirrels can be seen in the morning, late afternoon, and evening.
- Red squirrels are mostly found in Coniferous forests and temperate broadleaf woodlands.
- Red squirrel's predators are red fox, cats, dogs and etc.
- Gray squirrel is a tree squirrel.
- Gray Squirrel feed on tree bark, berries, nuts, acorns, and etc.
- Gray squirrels can mostly be found in woodland ecosystems.
- Gray squirrel's predators include humans, snakes, raccoons, and etc.
Conclusion
1. It was easiest for red squirrels to find resources when there were no invasive species like in the years 1 to 8. When the invasive species population increased it became harder and harder for the natives to find resources.
2. Organisms compete if they have very few resources and if two are going for the same type of resource.
3. Resources are largely affected as now there twice the amount of predators that need your energy. Resources can decrease drastically when there are competitions.
4. To avoid extinction from competition, the native squirrel's niche should change according to the invasive squirrel's niche.
Claim: The red squirrel's (native species) population will decrease if the stronger gray squirrels (invasive species) invade into their land and try to take away their resources.
Evidence: At the starting, before the gray squirrels arrived the red squirrels population ranged from 87 to 125 squirrels. But after the gray squirrels arrived the red squirrel's population drastically decreased from 125 to a few squirrels. The gray squirrels steadily increased from 6 to 178 squirrels. The predators had a population that decreased and increased it did not stay at a constant level of steadily decreasing or increasing.
Reasoning:The red and gray squirrels competed for the same resources as they had the same niche. The resources decreased as there were twice the number of predators. The gray squirrels were faster and stronger and so the competition decreased the red squirrels' population.
2. Organisms compete if they have very few resources and if two are going for the same type of resource.
3. Resources are largely affected as now there twice the amount of predators that need your energy. Resources can decrease drastically when there are competitions.
4. To avoid extinction from competition, the native squirrel's niche should change according to the invasive squirrel's niche.
Claim: The red squirrel's (native species) population will decrease if the stronger gray squirrels (invasive species) invade into their land and try to take away their resources.
Evidence: At the starting, before the gray squirrels arrived the red squirrels population ranged from 87 to 125 squirrels. But after the gray squirrels arrived the red squirrel's population drastically decreased from 125 to a few squirrels. The gray squirrels steadily increased from 6 to 178 squirrels. The predators had a population that decreased and increased it did not stay at a constant level of steadily decreasing or increasing.
Reasoning:The red and gray squirrels competed for the same resources as they had the same niche. The resources decreased as there were twice the number of predators. The gray squirrels were faster and stronger and so the competition decreased the red squirrels' population.