Web Activities
UNIT 5: POPULATION DYNAMICS
Chapter 14: Population Ecology
Page Number
Question
p. 658
Did You Know?
Extraordinary Flights of Fancy
“You can examine similar data on the movements of wildlife.”
Journey
North
Journey North is a Web site devoted to migrating North American animals.
It encourages students to help assist in the tracking of migration
every year. Data on the movements of a collection of species, from
hummingbirds to monarchs to whales and manatees is given, as well
as other biology info.
Migration
Facts
Migration Facts, from the WhyFiles Web site, gives a great picture
of some of the more elaborate feats accomplished by migrating animals.
For example, the arctic tern spends half the year in the Arctic and
the other half in the Antarctic - travelling a distance of over 17
000 km each way.
Migration
Migration is a section of the Peterson Online Web site, which is associated
with the famous guidebooks. Lots of interesting facts about some of
North America’s most outstanding migrating birds are given.
Migratory
Animals
Some commonly known, and not so commonly considered, Migratory Animals
are featured on this site. Cool facts about migration are given, and
there is lots of general biology info on each of the featured animals
too.
p. 688
Section 14.4 questions
11. Parasites are often used a biological controls, replacing
chemical pesticides to control agricultural pests. For example, in Leamington,
Ontario, 40% of commercial greenhouse tomato growers use a parasitic
wasp, Encarsia formosa, to control the whitefly, a pest that
damages tomato crops. Research some impacts of using parasites as biological
controls. Summarize your research on the societal, economic, ecological,
and environmental impacts in a PMI chart.
Biological
Pest Control Related Links
Biological Pest Control Related Links: from McGill University comes
this collection of Web sites that include information on biology,
commercial products, consulting companies, integrated pest management
news, and further links.
Biological
Control
Biological Control, from Cornell University, provides biology information
and photos on the species commonly used to control pests. There are
two categories for parasites - ‘parasatoids’ and ‘pathogens’.
General information on the concept and practice of biological control
is also included.
Biological
Control Virtual Information Centre
The Biological Control Virtual Information Centre, at North Carolina
State University’s Web site, provides basic information on this
method of pest control, and how the public can use it. Further links
are also provided.
p. 695
Review
18. Beginning in 1937, researchers Fred and Norah Urquhart
of the University of Toronto began efforts to discover the wintering
location of the migratory monarch butterfly. It was not until 1975 that
the wintering location was finally discovered.
Use the Internet to explore the science of marking and releasing organisms.
How did the Urquharts tag butterflies? Did their persistent efforts
play a role in the discovery of the monarch migration route? Gather
satellite data on species tagged with radio transmitters and plot their
movements on a map. What information can be obtained from this data
regarding population densities, distribution and dispersion patterns,
and behaviours?
Estimating
Population Sizes
Estimating Population Sizes is an introduction to a laboratory exercise
for undergraduate biology students at the University of Texas. It
explains the theory behind using the mark-recapture method.
Monarch
Watch
Monarch Watch is an ongoing program whereby students and scientists
work together to track the monarch’s yearly migrations. Under
the ‘Migration and Tagging’ section, you'll find info
on this fantastic journey, the Urquhart data detailing the migratory
routes, and descriptions of the original and revised tagging methods.
There is lots more on the site about monarch biology, conservation,
etc.
The
Urquharts
In 1998, The Urquharts were made Members of the Order of Canada, in
recognition of their work on monarch butterflies. This University
of Toronto article describes their contribution, and tells the story
of their 1975 discovery of the wintering destination of the monarch.
The
Albatross Project
The Albatross Project involves students worldwide in the research
of tracking albatross movements. On this site, you can examine the
data from satellites tracking the birds, and interpret it. Find out
lots of cool stuff about albatrosses and satellite tracking, and be
a radiotracking scientist.
WhaleNet
WhaleNet undertakes satellite tracking of whales, seals, turtles,
and other marine animals. They have an extensive collection of data
for you to view, as well as an invitation to track the movements of
currently tagged animals and record your results on the blank maps
they provide.
Satellite
Tracking Birds and Animals
Satellite Tracking Birds and Animals explains the ins and outs of
this method: how it works, and for what purposes it can be used. The
tracking maps of many animals - fish, mammals, and birds are also
viewable. The site hails from Space Today online magazine.
