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Wildebeest Populations

Photo of wildebeest on the Serengeti plain

Topic

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

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Phenomenal Images

Level

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

This activity explores an image of a wildebeest herd on the Serengeti, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about population dynamics and wildlife management.

In the 1960s, the wildebeest population in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, began increasing at a rate much faster than before. Scientists determined that this increase was due to several factors, including the eradication of a disease called rinderpest. This image shows part of the Serengeti wildebeest herd, which is now the largest herbivore herd on Earth.
 
The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the image as a phenomenon. The “Student Handout” includes the image and background information.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Examine images of phenomena, make observations, and ask questions.
  • Collaborate with peers on ideas, ask questions that require higher levels of reasoning, and develop deeper understanding of concepts.
  • Explain how factors such as resource availability and disease can affect population size.
     

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

exponential growth, logistic growth, population dynamics, rinderpest, Serengeti National Park, wildlife management

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 01.30.20
Date Updated 04.22.22

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-6

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-4.B, SYI-1.G, SYI-2.B; SP3

IB Biology (2016)

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

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 3.4, 3.5
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-3.D, ERT-3.F, SP2

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1, 2.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.WHST.9–12.9 

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP1

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Image (JPG) 343 KB
Educator Materials (PDF) 431 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 500 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 519 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 463 KB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About the Serengeti

Showing of
Photo of a herd of wildebeest preparing to cross a river.
Case Studies
Population Regulation in the Serengeti
Wildebeest population graph from the interactive
Data Points
Serengeti Wildebeest Population Regulation
Chart from the paper
Data Points
Patterns of Predation
Photo of a wildebeest grazing
Card Activities
Nutrient Cycling in the Serengeti
A map of vegetation and wildebeest locations highlighting the wildebeest moving toward an area of greater vegetation.
Lessons
Investigating Science Practices in Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory
Photo of buffalo grazing on grassland.
Scientists at Work
Mystery of the Buffalo Boom
Photo of wildebeest silhouetted by the setting sun
Short Films
Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Chart from the paper
Data Points
Patterns of Predation
Photo of wildebeest silhouetted by the setting sun
Short Films
Serengeti: Nature’s Living Laboratory
Image from the activity
Data Points
Effects of Predation on the Niche of Lizards
Photo of a herd of wildebeest preparing to cross a river.
Case Studies
Population Regulation in the Serengeti
interface image of the population dynamics interactive
Click & Learn
Population Dynamics
Lemming graph from the paper
Data Points
Predator-Prey Relationship Dynamics
Wildebeest population graph from the interactive
Data Points
Serengeti Wildebeest Population Regulation
Photo of a lionfish
Click & Learn
Lionfish Invasion: Density-Dependent Population Dynamics
Image from the activity
Data Points
Dead Zones in Coastal Ecosystems
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Snail Fronts and Salt Marsh Die-Offs
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