Population Dynamics of Yellowstone
Assessment
Yellowstone National Park is known for its geysers and rainbow-colored hot springs. This assessment explores the effects of competition for resource availability involving the reintroduction of gray wolves in Yellowstone after an absence of almost 70 years. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Analyze and interpret graphs to identify causal relationships between resource availability and organism population growth. 2. Use data as evidence for predicting how resource availability will drive competition among organisms. 3. Consider limitations of data analysis as a factor for only using probability in describing causal relationships between resource availability and organism population growth.
Yellowstone National Park is known for its geysers and rainbow-colored hot springs. It was established in 1872 as America’s first national park. At the time, the park was abundant in large game and top predators which appealed to hunters, both for food and sport. Wolves were hunted to keep them from preying on livestock and as a result, permanent packs were not reported within the park after 1923. For the next 70 years, the Yellowstone ecosystem became very unhealthy. Then, in 1995 biologists began reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone. You will be exploring the effects of competition for resource availability involving the reintroduction of gray wolves in Yellowstone. Click Next to continue.
Topics and standards: Life Science, MS-LS2-1, LS2.A, Ecosystems, Ecosystem Relationships, Analyzing & Interpreting Data, Cause & Effect, Grades 6-8, 3D Science Tasks, Tuva Assessment Tasks, TEKS Science 6.12.A, TEKS Science 7.12.B, 6-LS2-1, Assessment, 3.1.6-8.I