It generates population data for the area in a variety of ways. Useful in predicting land use and management schemes. A must for urban land planning, biology, sociology and geography classes. This program predicts the carrying capacity of a forest population of squirrels. An excellent laboratory or field study.
Students gather local data about competitors, weather, food, etc.
Comparing predicted potential to existing populations is useful and can provide for a lively classroom discussion. This program requires the student to observe an animal's behavior and record the time it spends doing a variety of tasks. Students enter this data and the program generates values for energy expenditures, basal metabolism requirements, and temperature corrections. By setting up a simple respirometer, the student provides data from the laboratory observation. This might change your mind.