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Patterns of Predation

Chart from the paper

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Populations
  • Ecosystems
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Graph Interpretation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Data Points

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
13 Users
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Description

This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study that investigated how herbivore populations are regulated in the Serengeti.

In this study, scientists examined whether herbivore population sizes in the Serengeti ecosystem of East Africa are regulated by bottom-up factors (such as food) or top-down factors (such as predators). As part of this study, the scientists analyzed 40 years of data on the causes of death for members of multiple herbivore species. The figure compares the percentages of adults in each species that died due to predation with the adults’ body sizes (as measured by weight).

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information.
 

Student Learning Targets

  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Explain the difference between bottom-up and top-down regulation.
  • Describe how to determine whether a population’s size is regulated by bottom-up or top-down factors.
     

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

bottom-up regulation, carnivore, error bar, herbivore, logarithmic scale, predator, prey, scatter plot, Serengeti, top-down regulation

Primary Literature

Sinclair, A. R. E., Simon Mduma, and Justin S. Brashares. “Patterns of predation in a diverse predator–prey system.” Nature 425, 6955 (2003): 288–290. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01934.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 10.24.19

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-4.B; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.1, C.2, C.5

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.1, 1.11
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.A, ENG-1.D, SP3, SP5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1, 2.2, 2.5

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7
MP2, MP5
 

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP2, DP3

Materials

Educator Materials (PDF) 356 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 292 KB
Figure (JPG) 17 KB

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