So we've figured out that organism #2 is prey to the trout. In fact, it's chub--a smaller fish the trout consumes.
But we got this other organism...organism #3, and after graphing it, we had a lot of concerns. We immediately couldn't call it a predator or a prey to the trout since it seems to break some "rules" we established about what happens to each type of population in terms of increasing/decreasing.
The most astounding part was what happened between 1930-1945. For one thing, it didn't exist in 1930--it's total population was ZERO! We had a lengthy discussion about what this means (extinct versus new species?!?!?!) and clarified that organisms of different species couldn't mate with one another, and that if an organism is extinct it can't come back. We certainly had lots of wonderings!
But we got this other organism...organism #3, and after graphing it, we had a lot of concerns. We immediately couldn't call it a predator or a prey to the trout since it seems to break some "rules" we established about what happens to each type of population in terms of increasing/decreasing.
The most astounding part was what happened between 1930-1945. For one thing, it didn't exist in 1930--it's total population was ZERO! We had a lengthy discussion about what this means (extinct versus new species?!?!?!) and clarified that organisms of different species couldn't mate with one another, and that if an organism is extinct it can't come back. We certainly had lots of wonderings!
This got us to thinking a couple things. Maybe the organism did exist and they just didn't see it? Someone mentioned that the Great Lakes connect to other bodies of water, and an organism may travel to a new environment to live for lots of reasons--to escape predators, to follow a food source, or possibly create a safe home for their offspring.
So we're off to do two things. We're going to use a US government map to see what the Great Lakes connect to (via satellite imagery) and research what could have happened historically in the Great Lakes during this unique time period.
So we're off to do two things. We're going to use a US government map to see what the Great Lakes connect to (via satellite imagery) and research what could have happened historically in the Great Lakes during this unique time period.