Name:_____________________________________Data Analysis: Can Sport Hunting Control Predator Populations?
A puma, also called a cougar, is a large predatory feline found in North America. The puma is
an ambush predator, and feeds on a variety of prey, such as rodents and deer. They have also
been known to attack livestock, pets, and even humans.
To reduce threats to human and livestock, several states legalized the sport hunting of pumas.
Sport hunting, also called trophy hunting, refers to hunting wild animals for the purpose of
display or keeping a trophy. State agencies also argued that reducing puma populations
would increase the number of deer, which are also resources desired by hunters.
1) Which of the following would be the best representation for a hypothesis related to puma
sport hunting?
a. If pumas are hunted, there will be fewer attacks on humans and livestock by pumas.
b. If pumas are hunted, then there will be a greater number of deer.
c. Both of these are valid hypotheses.
2) In order to test a hypothesis that trophy hunting will reduce attacks on humans and livestock,
what other information is needed?
a. the number of farms or livestock in an area
b. the number of encounters with pumas in an area (by humans or livestock)
c. the birth and death rates of puma populations
3) Not all experiments have a control group, but in this instance, which would best serve as a
control?
a. puma attacks in states that don’t allow trophy hunting
b. the number of deer in areas without pumas
c. the number of pumas in areas that do not allow hunting
Data Collection
Scientists collected data from ten states that allowed sport hunting of pumas and compared that
data to one state, California, where pumas were completely protected from sport hunting. In
California, pumas can be killed by conservation officers if they pose a threat.
4) If sport hunting of pumas reduces human and livestock attacks, then which of the following
would be observed in California?
a. California will have fewer incidences of puma attacks
b. California will have more incidences of puma attacks
2
Data Analysis – Use the I strategy to annotate the graph.
5) The graph shows “per capita” puma incidences. This means that each bar represents a
number per millions of people. Showing per capita data helps scientists compare more
populated states to less populated states. Which state had the highest number of per capita
attacks since 1972?
a) Wyoming (WY)
b) California (CA)
c) Montana (MT)
6) How many attacks (per million) occurred in Idaho (ID) since the year 2000? __________
since the year 1972? __________
7) How many attacks (per million) occurred in California (CA) since the year 2000?__________
since the year
1972?__________
8. CER – Summarize the findings.
CLAIM (from initial hypothesis):
EVIDENCE: Summarize the graph
(what is it showing you)
REASONING:Connect the evidence
to the claim (Often an if-then
statement).
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Formatting
Title Page
Citation
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