Week 4 General

Wildlife Biology

Upcoming Activities

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Population Dynamics

Carrying Capacity

African Elephants

Tsavo African Elephants

Tsavo vs Kruger

Puffins

• In 1990, the population on Gull Island was 5,000.
• The island, rich in nesting cliffs and fish-filled waters, had a carrying capacity of about 8,000 puffins.
• Over the next 15 years, puffin numbers increased steadily due to protection from predators and a ban on egg collection by local fishers.
• By 2005, the population had reached nearly 12,000 birds.

Puffins

• Researchers noticed signs of stress in the ecosystem.
• The puffins were competing more aggressively for nesting spots.
• The fish populations around the island began to decline due to overfeeding by the increased number of birds.
• By 2010, researchers saw a sharp drop in puffin chick survival and an increase in adult mortality.
• By 2015, the puffin population had dropped to 6,000.

Prairie Ecosystem Gizmo

RKERN

Prairie Ecosystem Gizmo