Galilea Patricio

Period 1
APES - The Effects of Coyote Removal in Texas

Part 1:
The proposal studies the effects of coyote removal in Texas. Coyotes are the
top-level predators in the semi-arid ecosystem located in Texas, the location can give
insight as to what the effects of these predators removal will be. The purpose for the
removal of coyotes is usually intended to increase the numbers in game and for the
protection of livestock. The experiment will determine what will happen to the
ecosystem when the coyotes are absent. It will also determine which animals will be
affected and what are the long and short terms effects on the ecosystem. In order to
determine the effects of coyote removal in the area a controlled experiment consisting
of an untreated area, meaning that coyotes will not be removed within the selected
regions. This will be used as comparison to an area in which the coyotes were removed.
To answer the questions the number of animals will be monitored as well as the
condition of the vegetation in the area treated.

Part 1B:



Galilea Patricio
Period 1
The base of the pyramid consists of the autotrophs which are able to produce
undergo a process called photosynthesis in which they absorb carbon dioxide and
sunlight to make food. The low-level predators in this ecosystem are scavengers and
herbivores which feed on the autotrophs and are consumed by the mesopredators, the
next level of animals on the trophic pyramid. At the top of the pyramid are coyotes,
which are the organisms that will be removed from the designated regions.

Part 2:
The experimental design for this study consists of four 5,000 hectare (ha) sites,
two control sites and two treatment sites with a 5 kilometer border. The treated sites will
be the areas where the coyotes will be removed while the control sites will not be
disturbed. The control sites will serve as comparison to the effects of coyote removal on
the environment. These regions will be analyzed a year prior the treatment and two
years post treatment to determine the difference. A couple predictions as to what will
happen to a coyote free environment and the organisms inhabiting it are as follow:
without the coyotes, the mesopredator population will increase as the coyote, the top
predator, will not control their numbers. As a result this will decrease the population size
for the low-level predators because of the increasing population of mesopredators.
Removing coyotes from the region will change the conditions of the environment which
include the species in it. Although the change might be minimal, or not as drastic as if it
were the base of the pyramid, there could a chain reaction as the population numbers of
the species are not controlled by the top predator, in this case the coyote.

Part 3:
Coyote removal in the area has allowed the mesopredator population to increase
substantially. Before the treatment the highest the relative abundance of the
mesopredators was approximately 40-45/km x 1,000 in the summer of 89 with its
number approximating zero shortly before the treatment. After the treatment the
mesopredator population gradually increased with its highest relative abundance
approximately 75/km x 1,000. The control sites had a relative abundance approximating
zero before and after the treatment time period. Since the coyotes were not present to
consume the mesopredators within the treatment sites, these species continued to
reproduction increase their populations. In the control sites, however, the presence of
coyotes has maintained the mesopredator populations relatively low which
demonstrates the effects of coyote removal on one level of the trophic pyramid for this
environment. A prediction of the low-level population, listed on the trophic level pyramid,
as a result of the changes in the mesopredator population, is that it gradually decreases
due to the increasing mesopredator population or it will be similar to the mesopredator
population since it has predators from one level instead of two.


Galilea Patricio
Period 1

Part 4:
The primary factor controlling the rodent population is the mesopredator
population which is one level above the low level predators. Before the treatment the
highest rodent biomass for the treated sites were approximately 850-900 grams/ha and
approximately 750 grams/ha for the control sites. After the treatment the highest rodent
biomass for the treated sites were approximately 3250 grams/ha and a the lowest
biomass was about 1750 grams/ha. The control had its highest biomass at about 800-
850 grams/ha with its lowest biomass about 1750 grams/ha. The rodent population has
increased along with the mesopredator population for it only has the species in one
level to consume them instead of two levels. As its population increased it can also
account for the increase in the mesopredator population. If the rodent population
continues to increase it would eventually reach its carrying capacity, meaning that the
environment in which they live in would no longer be able to support them because
there is not enough resources for all the individual organisms.

Part 5:
The competitive success of the Ord Kangaroo Rat visibly diminishes throughout
the time period in which the coyotes were removed. Before the treatment the rodent
biodiversity of the sites to be treated was about 0.6 at its highest point while the control
sites highest rodent biodiversity point was 0.7. After the treatment the treated sites had
its highest biodiversity point at 0.5, the controls highest point approximated 0.8. At the
beginning of the treatment the control had a substantial decrease in biodiversity
because with coyotes, the rodent population was controlled as it was consumed by both
the mesopredators and the coyotes. Ultimately the coyote serves as a control in
population size of its prey.



Galilea Patricio
Period 1