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From: Resilient Planet Mission 2: Survivors (pp: 37)
Predator-Prey

In this activity, student will explore a simplified relationship between predator and prey populations and observe how these populations sizes depend upon each other and how they may attain a natural state of stability.
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Predator and Prey
In order to understand the ecological balance of the FGBNMS, Bob Ballard observes the populations of both predator and prey species. Populations within an ecosystem vary over time, but sudden and dramatic drops or increases may indicate an ecosystem under stress. In this activity, you will explore a simplified relationship between predator and prey populations. You will observe how these population sizes depend upon each other and how they may attain a natural state of stability.


Materials
  • tape
  • scissors
  • graph paper

Lab Prep
  1. Download the game board and playing pieces from the JASON Mission Center.
  2. With a partner, cut out the squares. The smaller squares represent prey, while the larger ones represent predators.
  3. Assign one person to be the predator and the other to be the prey.
  4. The predator starts with two predator pieces and the prey starts with ten pieces.
  5. Keep extra predator and prey pieces for later use.

Make Observations
  1. The prey player must place all of his or her prey pieces in the ecosystem. The predator player then places his or her predator pieces onto the ecosystem.
  2. If a predator lands on any prey, the prey is consumed by that predator. For the predator to survive to the next round, it must contact at least three prey pieces at the same time. 
  3. Remove all consumed prey and any predators that did not survive.
  4. Count and record the surviving predator and prey.
  5. Remove all of the pieces from the ecosystem. Double the number of surviving predator and prey to start the next generation (round). This models reproduction.
  6. If there are no surviving predators and/or prey, the player may start the next generation with one new predator or five new prey. What does this model?
  7. Repeat steps 1–6 for twenty generations with the new predator and prey populations.
  8. Make a graph that illustrates the surviving numbers of prey and predators for each generation. What do your results show about predator-prey relationships in this model?

Extension

See what happens when you play the game with the following rules:

  • Increase the reproductive rate of the predator and/or prey
  • do not reintroduce new predator and/or prey pieces when there are no more survivors
  • change the number of prey pieces a predator must consume to survive
  • change the size of the predator and/or prey pieces
  • consult your teacher for other possible rules

Journal Question

Journal Question
How does the predator-prey interaction help an ecosystem reach a state of natural stability?
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