Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,

I have a question for the Crystal Ball Math: Predicting Population Growth with Models project. (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... background)

My question is, do we make up the population for the animal in a location, or does it have to be an accurate population.

Example:

In Australia, the population of the rabbits is 10,000. (This is made up). What I am trying to say is: Can we make up the population for an animal, and then use the made up population to calculate carrying capacity and growing rate OR do we have to use the actual population for the animal.

Also, I need help with choosing a catchy Science Project title for the
Crystal Ball Math: Predicting Population Growth with Models project.

If you or anyone else has a catchy name, please reply to this.

And, again, So if you have an idea, website, URL link, please help me. Please do know, I live in Canada, so I wouldn't have access to the Departments of Natural Resources website.
I am doing the Crystal Ball Math: Predicting Population Growth with Models
science project. I am having difficulty on finding other animals growing
rate, and carrying capacity. I was deciding on using the information you
gave us, but I want to explore and find the growing rate and carrying
capacity of other animals. I live in Canada so I am not able to use the
Departments of Natural Resources website. I tried searching up the animal and their
capacity. EX. ( Rabbits Carrying Capacity.) and I couldn't find anything.
Do you have any ideas, websites, URL links I can go to to find other
animals carrying capacity and growing rates. I have been doing research for
many days now for this, and couldn't find anything. I want to make this
project more accurate, so I was hoping to do a lot more animals instead of
the four animals you gave. Is there any websites,ideas and URL links you
can suggest so I can find different animals carrying capacity. And also a
website which will give me the timeline. That's not necessary as much, but
I need help finding other animals. I was hoping I can predict for the
future as well. It would be extremely helpful you can give me the links to
the websites.

Thank you,
-Esha Wonders.

Moderator note: I have combined your 3 posts on this topic as per Science Buddies guidelines. By combining your questions, one expert can help you with all of questions at the same time! Thank you for keeping your posts together!

I think the project will be much more interesting to use real data. You should be able to find information in Canada as well: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/envir ... ecies.html
Also, if you want to try to pick out real data from real scientific papers you could simply try Google Scholar to search for things like Australian rabbit carrying capacity or related ecology term. First you can use the sources that come up to decide what specific species you want to focus on, which might help you find more specific numbers.

pharrast wrote:I think the project will be much more interesting to use real data. You should be able to find information in Canada as well: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/envir ... ecies.html
Also, if you want to try to pick out real data from real scientific papers you could simply try Google Scholar to search for things like Australian rabbit carrying capacity or related ecology term. First you can use the sources that come up to decide what specific species you want to focus on, which might help you find more specific numbers.

Good afternoon Pharrast,

I just read your reply right now. Thank you for replying, as quickly as you could of.
For Google Scholar, I tried searching up, and yes some came up.
But the problem is, I found this one book that might help me. But the whole book doesn't come. Just the first 19 pages. How should I be more specific when I type (animal carrying capacity)? If you understand what I mean.
Ex. (Rabbit carrying capacity). Is there any more ways I can be more specific? Also, do I have to type the location as well. I was thinking to get more results, I can use the whole country instead of just one location. Where did the experts/scientists who wrote this project, find their animal information? My second question is: Do you have any catchy names for this project?
Thank you once again for your reply,
Have yourself a wonderful day/night,
-EshaWonders

If I were you I would start with the "learn more" tab under the crystal ball math experiment, full of news stories about animal populations, likely with links to sources containing the numbers you're looking for. As for the name, I like to come up with it at the end when I have fully digested the content of the project