Challenge Team Interim Report

Team Number: 053 School Name: Picacho Middle School Area of Science: Environmental Project Title: Predatory Prey

Problem Definition: Since predators have long since been around we decided to base our project on the most common species around the terrain, which we live? The animals that live in this rugged terrain are well equipped with what they need to survive, most of the time that is food. Since our predator and prey population relies on each other we based our research on the most common animals we see as a predator and its favorite food. These animals are the coyote (predator) and the rabbit (prey) we have there fore been figuring the population density in a given area so we could begin creating our model and program. Except before we do that we need to figure the landscape in which it lives in.

Reason For Project: The reason we did this project is because we are creating this program so that it will be able to show needed information so that a certain species of animal does not become extinct. Also it will able large cattle ranches in the northern part of the state to see how long a certain area of land will be able to be grazed. We were also interested in just how long something can go with out something else, witch is like how predators and prey rely on each other.

Problem Solution: To figure this problem, we must model the population and controlling factors that could cause our model to very and would not be very accurate. These factors are birth and death the reason we chose these two variables is because those are the basic steps in life. To do so we must utilize several mathematical equations in to a program witch will be used to calculate all the possible possibilities and requirements needed to live in this terrain. These math equations will provide us with the much-needed information that will be vital to our solution; we have been working on these equations with our mentor. During the program we will show how each the predator and prey interact with each other, and keep the other one around.

Progress To Date: We have been basing our program on the model we created using starlolgo this model so far is able to function the specific requirements we will use it for. We have been contacting the Department Of Game and Fish, so that they could help us figure a rough estimate for our program. The reason for that is our program will work effete fly; also we have been using much needed and helpful information from our mentor Dr. Anderson. As on our program we are hoping that it will turn out well. So we will continue working and figuring out a solution for our program.

Expected Results: When our program is fully completed we are hoping that it will be able to show the population of certain animals in an amount of time in a certain land area. Also like similar to the Starlogo program, but we are not going to show an exact model but more of a real program. We are also hoping that we will able it to show the differences in certain years by representing numbers. The program it self will be a great help for wild life services, such as the Department Of Game And Fish. This will able to show how a certain number of species is interceding with either a predator or prey.

Team Members

Team Mail

• Ty Dolan
• Joshua Hale
• Brendan Sullivan
• Sean Turner

Sponsoring Teachers

• Jean McCray

Project Advisor(s)

• Gary Cruz
• Dr. Anderson