Using the Scientific Using the Scientific Method to Study Wildlife Method to Study Wildlife

PopulationsPopulations

Review of Scientific MethodReview of Scientific MethodInformation

HypothesisAnalysis

It’s a circular It’s a circular process used process used

to answer to answer questions questions and gain and gain

knowledge.knowledge.

Experiment

We can use the Scientific We can use the Scientific Method to:Method to:

See how far Sage Grouse go to find See how far Sage Grouse go to find mates.mates.

See if there are enough strutting See if there are enough strutting grounds around.grounds around.– to make sure there are enoughto make sure there are enough– and to make sure they are close enough.and to make sure they are close enough.

Determine what is their preferred Determine what is their preferred habitat for strutting.habitat for strutting.

QuestionQuestionDo mountains get in the way of Sage Do mountains get in the way of Sage

Grouse going to their strutting grounds?Grouse going to their strutting grounds?

Information

Gather all of the Gather all of the information we information we can so that we can so that we

can get an idea of can get an idea of what to expectwhat to expect

Experiment

Analysis Hypothesis

Information

Sage grouse will visit many strutting Sage grouse will visit many strutting grounds each springgrounds each spring

Prefer to go to those strutting Prefer to go to those strutting grounds that are close togethergrounds that are close together

Sage grouse can travel up to 13 Sage grouse can travel up to 13 miles to find habitat that they likemiles to find habitat that they like

Can be seen as far up as 9000 feet Can be seen as far up as 9000 feet on a mountainon a mountain

Need to BreedNeed to Breed

1.) The offspring gets one gene 1.) The offspring gets one gene from each parent.from each parent.

2.) Two individuals must come 2.) Two individuals must come into contact to reproduce. into contact to reproduce. This may not be possible if This may not be possible if there are obstacles.there are obstacles.

Aspects of the LandAspects of the LandDifferent Animals Like Different Different Animals Like Different

ThingsThings

a.) large open spaces (quail like to hide)a.) large open spaces (quail like to hide)b.) large lakes (bobcats don’t like to swim)b.) large lakes (bobcats don’t like to swim)c.) fences (antelope have trouble jumping)c.) fences (antelope have trouble jumping)d.) roads (turtles, frogs, and many deer d.) roads (turtles, frogs, and many deer can’t cross quickly enough)can’t cross quickly enough)

Use the land the way that they know how in Use the land the way that they know how in order to find their mates and reproduce.order to find their mates and reproduce.

A dead frog can’t pass on its A dead frog can’t pass on its genes.genes.

Just as frogs must Just as frogs must reach water to breed, reach water to breed,

sage-grouse need open sage-grouse need open areas to meet and areas to meet and

attract mates. These attract mates. These open areas are called open areas are called

strutting grounds.strutting grounds.

Bad Sage-grouse HabitatBad Sage-grouse Habitat

Good Sage-grouse HabitatGood Sage-grouse Habitat

HypothesisHypothesis

If the mountain is less than 9000 feet If the mountain is less than 9000 feet high, a sage grouse will go over it to high, a sage grouse will go over it to get to a strutting ground.get to a strutting ground.

If the mountain is more than 9500 If the mountain is more than 9500 feet high a sage grouse will not go feet high a sage grouse will not go over it to get to a strutting ground.over it to get to a strutting ground.

(Had to give ourselves some wiggle (Had to give ourselves some wiggle room)room)

Design the ExperimentDesign the Experiment

Need to put radio-collars on the sage Need to put radio-collars on the sage grouse so that we can follow where they go. grouse so that we can follow where they go.

Follow them and record the different Follow them and record the different breeding ground that they go to during the breeding ground that they go to during the breeding season.breeding season.

Plot them on a map and look at the Plot them on a map and look at the mountains that are between one breeding mountains that are between one breeding ground and the next.ground and the next.

Record the elevation of all the mountains Record the elevation of all the mountains that separate breeding grounds that sage that separate breeding grounds that sage grouse go to.grouse go to.

Results/AnalysisResults/Analysis

Radio-tracked 50 sage grouse.Radio-tracked 50 sage grouse. Mountains were crossed 200 times by the Mountains were crossed 200 times by the

50 sage grouse on their way to strutting 50 sage grouse on their way to strutting grounds.grounds.

182 times, the mountain was less than 182 times, the mountain was less than 9000 feet in elevation9000 feet in elevation

18 times, the mountain was greater than 18 times, the mountain was greater than 9500 feet in elevation9500 feet in elevation

So what can we say about the results and So what can we say about the results and our hypothesis?our hypothesis?

What about those 18 times What about those 18 times that the sage-grouse went over that the sage-grouse went over

the mountain when it was the mountain when it was >9500 feet?>9500 feet?

Sage grouse will Sage grouse will sometimes cross sometimes cross mountains higher mountains higher than 9500 feet. than 9500 feet.

Why do they?Why do they?

Information

Experiment

Analysis Hypothesis

What do you think?What do you think?