Generic AP Science: Water Lab on Sustainability

September 24, 2016 By: Alexis Williams

Purpose: To understand how environmental variations have a positive or negative
effect on a specific population within a given time frame
Reproduction and Fish Population
Prediction: As the reproduction increases then the fish population will increase
Ind. Variable: Reproduction
Dep. Variable: Quantity of Fish
Trial
Reproduction
Time
Fish Population #
Capture Rate
#
Rate
(Months)
(Thousands of Tons)
(Thousands of
Tons)
1
1.667
425
1000
5
2
0.05
425
300
5
3
0.35
425
1000
5
As we increased the reproduction rate the fish population also increased we know
this because in trial 2 the reproduction rate was 0.05 which made the total fish
population 300 thousand tons were as in trial 1 when the reproduction rate was
1.667 the total fish population was 1,000 thousand tons. This proves my prediction
correct because if more fish reproduce then there are more fish as a whole.
Capture Rate and Fish Population
Prediction: As the capture rate increases then the quantity of fish will increase
Ind. Variable: Capture Rate
Dep. Variable: Quantity of Fish
Trial #
Capture Rate
Time (Months)
Fish Population (Thousands
(Thousands of
of Tons)
Tons)
1
5
200
1700
2
20
200
900
3
40
200
400
As we increased the capture rate the fish population also increased we know this
because in trial 1 the capture rate was 5 thousand tons which made the total fish
population 1700 whereas in trial 3 the capture rate was 40 thousand tons which
made the total fish population 400 thousand tons. This proves my prediction correct
because if more fish are captured the total population will decrease.
Capture Start Time and Fish Population
Prediction: As the capture start decreases then the quantity of fish also decreases
Ind. Capture Start Time
Dep. Variable: Quantity of Fish
Trial #
Capture
Time
Fish Population
Capture Rate
Start
(Months)
(Thousands of
(Thousands of
Tons)
Tons)
1
200
350
1700
5
2
100
350
1300
5
3
50
350
400
5
As we decrease the capture start then the fish population decreases we know this
because in trial 1 the capture start was 200 months then the fish population was
1700 thousand tons where as in trial 3 the capture start was 50 months then the

fish population was 400 thousand tons. This proves my prediction correct because
as the number of capture months increases then the number of total fish also
decreases.
Conclusion
This lab would be useful in the real world to help fishermen figure out variables that
effect the population of fish that they are attempting to catch. By calculating the
reproduction, catch start, and catch rate they can help their business become more
environmentally friendly. I would have received a different outcome if the initial
amount of fish or any of the other dependent variables were to change and
potentially effect the total amount of fish.