Transcript No Slide Title

Resource Ecology PGO-2
Vegetation - Herbivore - Harvest
Nakuru Ranch, Kenya
Herbivore abundance changes
ln (number of animals)
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
1996
1998
2000
2002
years
2004
2006
2008
Resource - consumer relationships:
Harvest
Herbivores
Grass
Main questions:
• How do herbivores use the landscape (habitat, diet)?
• Is herbivore consumption “in line” with grass production?
• Does one herbivore species seem to influence the
population of another herbivore species?
• What is the effect of harvesting one herbivore species on
the growth and development of another species?
We will use two approaches:
• Analysis of field data using Excell to derive patterns of
population growth, habitat use and diet similarities
• Construction of a grass-herbivore-harvest model using
Stella to study the effects of these interactions
Res.Ecol. PGO 2: Vegetation - herbivore - harvest relationships
What we expect you to do:
- Create small groups of 2 persons each
- Answer all questions in the PGO-2 assignment
- Instructions in your reader. Data at RE Course website:
(http://www.reg.wur.nl/uk/ > Education > Resource Ecology)
- Stella programme installed already in your computer
(programs)
- End product: create a clear Powerpoint slide show which
includes ALL your answers to ALL the questions
- Deadline: mail your slide show to us NO LATER than
Friday 11 April 17:00 !!!
Evaluation Criteria
for your PowerPoint presentation
• Did you answer the questions correctly?
• Application of ecological theories: can you explain the model
and the results in ecological terms? Some key elements are:
population dynamics, bottom-up effects, interspecific
interactions (competition / facilitation), niche segregation,
resource sustainable harvesting.
• General impression (i.e. layout, writing, presentation skills).