Barnacle Competition Model
1. When the larval levels are equal (2.5 for both species), what
did you observe about the location and population size of both
species?
After 10 days of experimentation and leaving the predetermined
controls, the population of barnacles of the Chthamalus genus resulted
in 143 individuals, while 86 individuals were counted for the Balanus
genus. In addition, it can be observed that Chthamalus is located in the
upper zone of the intertidal area with very few individuals inhabiting the
lower part of the rocky coast. In contrast, Balanus clearly shows a
preference for adhering to the lower intertidal zone.
2. During the simulation, you should have noticed a pattern
between the Belanus and Chthamalus populations. Describe this
trend and give a possible ecological reason for this.
By increasing the sea level to 1 meter and increasing the number of
Balanus larvae, it can be observed that this favored an increase in the
population of this barnacle in a more rapid way, counting 143 individuals
after 10 days of experimentation. Even though the growth of Chthamalus
was slow after the end of the experiment, the population size of this
barnacle was larger, with 170 individuals being found. This pattern
seems to indicate that, as there are higher tides and a greater number of
Banalus larvae, the conditions favored their ability to compete more
efficiently for the substrate and for the space of the rocky bed, being
able to exceed their population size at some point with with respect to
Chthamalus. The possible ecological reason is interspecific competition,
which is the ability of a species to inhibit the reproductive efficiency or
growth of the other species, for which one of them will make better use
of space and food.
1. When the larval levels are equal (2.5 for both species), what
did you observe about the location and population size of both
species?
After 10 days of experimentation and leaving the predetermined
controls, the population of barnacles of the Chthamalus genus resulted
in 143 individuals, while 86 individuals were counted for the Balanus
genus. In addition, it can be observed that Chthamalus is located in the
upper zone of the intertidal area with very few individuals inhabiting the
lower part of the rocky coast. In contrast, Balanus clearly shows a
preference for adhering to the lower intertidal zone.
2. During the simulation, you should have noticed a pattern
between the Belanus and Chthamalus populations. Describe this
trend and give a possible ecological reason for this.
By increasing the sea level to 1 meter and increasing the number of
Balanus larvae, it can be observed that this favored an increase in the
population of this barnacle in a more rapid way, counting 143 individuals
after 10 days of experimentation. Even though the growth of Chthamalus
was slow after the end of the experiment, the population size of this
barnacle was larger, with 170 individuals being found. This pattern
seems to indicate that, as there are higher tides and a greater number of
Banalus larvae, the conditions favored their ability to compete more
efficiently for the substrate and for the space of the rocky bed, being
able to exceed their population size at some point with with respect to
Chthamalus. The possible ecological reason is interspecific competition,
which is the ability of a species to inhibit the reproductive efficiency or
growth of the other species, for which one of them will make better use
of space and food.
