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LAB QUESTIONS

In the lab questions below, report your answers in the format of a scientific report: introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions and management recommendations. Click here for a tip sheet about writing scientific reports.

Introduction

1. What is the question that this study aimed to answer? State the hypothesis that you tested.

Methods

2. Briefly describe the methods of data collection and analysis you used to test your hypothesis. What scientific procedure did you follow to answer your question and test your hypothesis?

Results

3. Look at your results table. What were impacts of fragmentation on each species' population numbers when all four were present? Do you accept or reject your hypothesis? Support your answer with reference to the specific results upon which you are basing your finding.

4. Did you observe any thresholds of fragmentation beyond which a species' population number rapidly declined (here, an example of a threshold would be if one or more species' population numbers remained relatively constant at 0% and 25% fragmentation, but then suddenly fell dramatically at 50% or 75% fragmentation)? Did the effects of any such threshold on one species cascade through the community to impact other species? Explain, using specific examples from your data.

5. What were the impacts of competition on each species? How did the addition of BBWF, elk and wolves affect the populations of the other species?

Discussion

6. Which species appear to benefit from increasing fragmentation? Which species are negatively impacted? Based on your knowledge of environmental science, what could explain these observations? Support your answer with specific results from your data and ideas from your readings.

7. How do your findings relate to relevant theories in environmental science? Specifically:

a. Do your results indicate that any of the species are keystone species? Do they support the theory of bottom-up or top-down control of population dynamics in ecosystems? Explain.

b. How do deforestation and urban sprawl affect the greater food web? Do your results support idea that trophic cascades occur in nature? Explain.

8. According to the scenario, your results and the readings, how might the environmental impacts of deforestation and sprawl affect the human community of Pinchot?

Conclusions and Management Recommendations

9. What do you recommend to Pinchot