Question

a.) Rat population density varies with the previous year's annual rainfall. Following years with an average of 80 cm of rain, rat population density averaged 118/ha. In wetter years with an average of 120 cm of rain rat population density increased to 145/ha. What density of rats would you predict following a relatively dry year with just 50 cm of rain?

b.) Python reproduction is linearly related to the current density of rats. At 75 rats/ha 37% of the female pythons are gravid while at 130 rats/ha 62% of the female pythons are gravid. Use the information from the previous question (a) to predict the percent of pythons that will be gravid this year if there was 70 cm of rain the previous year?

Answer 1