Population Viability on Isle Royale

A teaching resource developed by Dana Paige Seidel, M.S


An educational case study:

Grade Level:

Advanced high school


Estimated time:

1 hour


Objective:

To teach about Population Viability Analysis (PVA) for conservation and wildlife management using the NumerusOL framework and web app. Students will explore the impact of sex ratio, birth rate, density dependence, environmental and demographic stochasticity, and connectivity on the long term existence of small populations. An additional exercise within the NumerusOL web app will allow students to explore how management decisions such as to allow stocking can affect the stability of wolf populations. Although, this lesson is tailored to follow lessons on population dynamics and the unique predator - prey relationships found on Isle Royale, it can be taught entirely on its own.







Tutorial CSV Downloads:


Step 1: healthy, deterministic


Step 2: real-world example


Step 3: multi-population




Additional CSV Downloads:


Alternative 1: healthy, stochasticity


Alternative 2: stocking


CSV data will appear here