Continuous Change!

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Yesterday we talked about what can cause the population of Oak Ridge to change. We mentioned:births, deathsPeople moving in/outCan be a maximum limit on how many people can live here

Now let us put some specific words to these causes.

Look at your foldable.

POPULATIONSPOPULATIONS

Defined: a group of the same species living in the same area.

Birth RateBirth Rate

Defined: the number born to a species over a period of time.

Example – in Oak Ridge we had 260 births in 2004.

Death RateDeath Rate

Defined: the number that die over a period of time.

Example – in Oak Ridge we had 324 deaths in 2004.

ImmigrationImmigration

Defined: when an individual moves into a population permanently.

EmigrationEmigration

Defined: when an individual permanently leaves or exits a population.

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

Defined: the maximum number of a species that an ecosystem can support.

(e.g.) only so many squirrels can live in one tree.

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

Defined: anything that restricts the number in a population.

Examples – food, water, living space, shelter

This is all part of This is all part of populationpopulation

We will play a game using populations

of dung beetles as an example.

Let’s get some background information

about dung beetles.

Dung BeetlesDung Beetles

Size: From 0.08” to 2.5”.

Colors: black, metallic blue, metallic green, metallic copper

Scavengers

ClassificationClassificationKingdom: AnimalPhylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera (beetles)Family :Scarabaeidae (scarabs)

Pooper ScoopersPooper Scoopers

What do dung beetles do? They eat dung! They live around dung! They lay their eggs in dung! They roll dung! All they want is to have

some DUNG!

Plusiotis chrysopedila, metallic leaf chafer, Panama

Plusiotis chrysargyrea, metallic leaf chafer, Costa Rica

The beetle molds the dung into a ball and then, using its hind legs to push while its forelegs are braced against the ground, rolls the dung away and buries it. Throughout the summer the beetle will continue to mold, roll, bury and eat its food source.

B Ball RollersBall Rollers

Importance in the Importance in the environmentenvironment

Reduce the amount of dung Reduce the smell of dung Reduce the amount of insects that breed in dung

Help recycle soil nutrients

Draw the chart in your spiral.Year # of beetles 1 2 3

4 5 6 7

Write down your playing card # and suit

Each group will receive a bag of dung

beetle cards.

Spread out the dung beetle cards face

down.

Turn over some of the cards as

instructed.

This represents your beginning

population for year one.

Listen for what happens to your

population during the year.

Turn cards face up or down to represent the number in your beetle population.

At the end of each year write in your chart the current population number.

Keep careful notes. At the end of year seven you will be graphing the results and answering follow-up questions.