Question

An ecological study focuses on the conservation of sea turtles in the eastern coast of India. There are two different populations of Olive Ridley turtles that are under the study: Gahiramatha population (Pop. A) and Chilika population (Pop. B). These turtles lay their eggs on the beach and after hatching, the baby turtles leave the beach and swim into the sea. These hatchlings are attacked by three different predators (sayQ, W and R).The hatching rates at different times of the day are: Morning: 0.25 (A), 0.5 (B); Afternoon: 0.25 (A), 0.1 (B); Evening: 0.25 (A), 0.25 (B); Night: 0.25 (A), 0.15 (B);The hunting rate per hatchling due to presence of different predator is given below (in different times of the day): Morning: 0.3 (Q), 0 (W), 0.7 (R); Afternoon:0.6 (Q), 0.1 (W), 0.3 (R); Evening: 0.1 (Q), 0.7 (W), 0.2 (R); Night: 0.1 (Q), 0.9 (W), 0 (R)Provided by the government for the conservation efforts, the scientists are using floating buoys to reduce predation. The efficacy (in reducing hunting by any predator) of the buoys at different times of the day are-Morning: 0.5;Afternoon-0.9; Evening: 0.3, Night: 0.1Use matrices to calculate the following:

(a)The total predation rate at different times of the day.

(b)The total predation rate of each population at different times of the day.

(c)The total predation rate of each population

(d)The total predation rate at different times of the day, if the buoys are used.

(e)The total predation rate of each population at different times of the day, if the buoys are used. Also calculate the total predation rate of each population after buoy use.

Answer 1