Wildebeest Populations

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.
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.
Details
exponential growth, logistic growth, population dynamics, rinderpest, Serengeti National Park, wildlife management
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.
Curriculum Connections
HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-6
ENE-4.B, SYI-1.G, SYI-2.B; SP3
4.1, C.1, C.2, C.5
II.A, III.A
2.1, 2.2
ELA.WHST.9–12.9
CC5; DP1