In this virtual lab, you will explore the impacts of human activities on a population of fish. Be sure to explore the tutorial before beginning to familiarize yourself with the interactive software and how it works. You will work through a variety of tasks in all four stages of the simulation and answer the questions posed below based on your results in complete sentences. *Please change the font color for your answers where possible. Website Link: Gulf Tuna Population Simulation LINK: Stage 1:Without changing any of the factors, run the simulation to get a baseline of population growth. What did you observe when no factors were changed? Why do you think the population stopped at a certain point? Now reset the Stage 1 simulation and check the box that says 'Show Normal Population Growth' and 'Show History'. Run the simulation three separate times, changing the variables one at a time listed below: Low Reproduction High Reproduction High Death Rate What did you observe when variables were changed? How does this compare to the normal population growth? Insert a screenshot of your results here: Stage 2: Move on to the next stage but do not change any of the variables. Run the simulation three times, showing the normal population growth rate and history. How did disease and/or pollution impact the population growth for each of your simulations? What are two possible negative consequences of disease and/or pollution based on your results? Insert a screenshot of your results here: Stage 3: Moving on to the next stage, run the simulation without changing any factors. What did you observe when no factors were changed? Adjust the settings to show only heavy amounts of fishing during the summer. Does this scenario result in a sustainable population? Why or why not? Now adjust the settings to show moderate amounts of fishing during all four seasons. How does this result compare to the previous two simulations? Does this scenario result in a sustainable population? Why or why not? Insert a screenshot of your results here: Stage 4: In this final simulation, all variables can be manipulated to see their combined effect on population growth. Run the simulation three separate times, adjusting any factors you choose to try and match the normal population growth curve. Were you successful in matching the normal rate of population growth? Why or why not? What combination of factors would result in normal population growth? What outside factors could play a role in the changing of population growth? What can we do to help limit the impacts of human activities on population growth? Give two possible solutions. Insert a screenshot of your results here:
