Brine shrimp/Tuna lab
Collaborators- N/A
Abstract- A simulator was used to conduct this experiment, and the results were fairly accurate. The simulator would allow you to alter certain variables on a fairly broad spectrum. After the simulator had completed a 20 year simulation it would produce specific numbers, including the carrying capacity and level of the variables. This simulator was very helpful for this experiment.
Problem- What are the effects of limiting factors on the population of tuna?
Hypothesis- If there are more limiting factors among the fish then the fish will have a smaller population.
Parts of the experiment- There were no control or experimental groups. However, the independent variables were reproduction, migration, pollution, disease, predators, food, and death. The dependent variable was Population, and the controlled variables were reproduction, death, migration, ph, and temperature.
Materials- Simulation found at http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/fishery_sim.html
Data-
Abstract- A simulator was used to conduct this experiment, and the results were fairly accurate. The simulator would allow you to alter certain variables on a fairly broad spectrum. After the simulator had completed a 20 year simulation it would produce specific numbers, including the carrying capacity and level of the variables. This simulator was very helpful for this experiment.
Problem- What are the effects of limiting factors on the population of tuna?
Hypothesis- If there are more limiting factors among the fish then the fish will have a smaller population.
Parts of the experiment- There were no control or experimental groups. However, the independent variables were reproduction, migration, pollution, disease, predators, food, and death. The dependent variable was Population, and the controlled variables were reproduction, death, migration, ph, and temperature.
Materials- Simulation found at http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/fishery_sim.html
Data-
Analysis- Based on the simulator the experiment went well. Using the variables the simulator gave us, the higher the variables were the lower the population tended to be. The simulator is good for a broad estimate in a broad area, however, the simulation does not test all the variables that need to be altered. All in all the accuracy of the experiment was towards the lower points and should not be use to test specifics.
General analysis- As it was said, the simulator used in this experiment was not very accurate. Out in the real world there are hundreds of variables, at least have of which are changing inconsistently and cannot be predicted, that need to be tested in order to determine an accurate number for the population. This simulator is not very thorough and must be avoided if an accurate number is to be calculated.
Specific Conclusion Questions:
In stage 1:
1. What are the limiting factors?
- Reproduction, migration, and death
2. What is your carrying capacity?
- 100K
In stage 2:
3. What happened immediately when pollution occurred?
- The population dropped dramatically
4. How long did it take the population to recover after pollution occurred?
- Approximately 5 years
5. What happened immediately after disease occurred?
- The population dropped dramatically
6. How long did it take the population to recover after disease occurred?
- Approximately 5 years
In stage 3:
7. Some fishing will occur, as humans interact with the environment. Find a pattern that will allow the tuna population to remain at a carrying capacity of 60,000. What fishing regulations would maintain this population size?
- Light fishing during all seasons
In stage 4:
8. What factors allowed for the maximum amount of fishing while maintaining the fish population? Record the greatest amount of fishing allowable.
-If death and predators were low and reproduction, migration, and food were high then people could fish relatively high all seasons
9. Which factors are density-dependent and which are density-independent?-
-Density-dependent are the food, predators, migration, fishing, and reproduction while density-independent is disease and pollution
10. How could a model, such as this simulation, help fisheries biologists make recommendations about setting fishing limits? Explain your answer.
- Simulations use every conceivable variable to determine what would happen in a perfectly controlled environment, and maybe even have some spontaneous natural disasters occur. Using this simulation would be able to tell scientists the maximum fishing limits in almost every condition so they could determine the limits that need to be set
General conclusion- The hypothesis was correct that with more limiting factors the smaller the population gets. The real problem is humans are forcing more and more limiting on the species of this planet causing their populations to be smaller. However, the simulation used in the experiment did not use all of the variables, and the variables that were used had very broad ranges. Although, the simulation can be used to predict future measurements based on current information. All in all, for a professional this simulator would probably not be used, however, for a broad idea of what would most likely happen to the tuna population, this simulator is ideal.
General analysis- As it was said, the simulator used in this experiment was not very accurate. Out in the real world there are hundreds of variables, at least have of which are changing inconsistently and cannot be predicted, that need to be tested in order to determine an accurate number for the population. This simulator is not very thorough and must be avoided if an accurate number is to be calculated.
Specific Conclusion Questions:
In stage 1:
1. What are the limiting factors?
- Reproduction, migration, and death
2. What is your carrying capacity?
- 100K
In stage 2:
3. What happened immediately when pollution occurred?
- The population dropped dramatically
4. How long did it take the population to recover after pollution occurred?
- Approximately 5 years
5. What happened immediately after disease occurred?
- The population dropped dramatically
6. How long did it take the population to recover after disease occurred?
- Approximately 5 years
In stage 3:
7. Some fishing will occur, as humans interact with the environment. Find a pattern that will allow the tuna population to remain at a carrying capacity of 60,000. What fishing regulations would maintain this population size?
- Light fishing during all seasons
In stage 4:
8. What factors allowed for the maximum amount of fishing while maintaining the fish population? Record the greatest amount of fishing allowable.
-If death and predators were low and reproduction, migration, and food were high then people could fish relatively high all seasons
9. Which factors are density-dependent and which are density-independent?-
-Density-dependent are the food, predators, migration, fishing, and reproduction while density-independent is disease and pollution
10. How could a model, such as this simulation, help fisheries biologists make recommendations about setting fishing limits? Explain your answer.
- Simulations use every conceivable variable to determine what would happen in a perfectly controlled environment, and maybe even have some spontaneous natural disasters occur. Using this simulation would be able to tell scientists the maximum fishing limits in almost every condition so they could determine the limits that need to be set
General conclusion- The hypothesis was correct that with more limiting factors the smaller the population gets. The real problem is humans are forcing more and more limiting on the species of this planet causing their populations to be smaller. However, the simulation used in the experiment did not use all of the variables, and the variables that were used had very broad ranges. Although, the simulation can be used to predict future measurements based on current information. All in all, for a professional this simulator would probably not be used, however, for a broad idea of what would most likely happen to the tuna population, this simulator is ideal.