Ecology: Factors Influencing Animal Populations

Life has its ups and downs ... especially if you're an animal! Biology scholars engage in a population study through an inquiry-based lesson plan. Pupils work together to explore the factors that affect deer populations, then examine the...

How do we predict future population growth? Young researchers investigate various factors affecting the size of our population. As they calculate and interpret graphs to determine factors that could potentially affect increases and...

In this populations worksheet, learners are given 4 terms to define, they draw a representation of each term and they indicate what they are reminded of by the term. The topics include populations, communities, limiting factors and carry...

Who is not drawn to trading cards? In this lesson, junior ecologists create a trading card of an animal or plant from one of Arizona's biotic communities. Gorgeous sample cards are provided in the lesson plan as well as a plethora of...

The total world population is predicted to pass 8 billion by 2025, which is less than 10 years from now. The video focuses on human population growth and the impact it has had and is having on our planet and other populations. It...

Along came a spider, who sat down beside her. She screamed, but RJ wouldn't smash it because spiders are a limiting factor for other insects in an ecosystem. In this video, other common limiting factors for populations are listed....

If any of the limiting factors in an environment change, both animal and plant populations also change. The video explains two different models of growth and the impact of limiting factors. It highlights the carrying capacity of an...

Why do most populations remain stable over time? Usually it is a result of either environmental resistance or carrying capacity. Examine some of the factors that help stabilize animal populations, and explore some of the changes that...

Let's ask an expert!  Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History field questions about the environment in an interactive resource. Question topics range from global warming and conservation to endangered species and habitats.

Students control the environments in four different scenarios to discover how any changes might affect populations. The different simulations include microorganisms, rabbits, foxes, and other organisms.