| WRL reference | M05 D03 | |
| Module | M05 Natural Resource Use and Sustainability | |
| Data Set | D03 Quantifying the effect of fishing on Amazonian fish | |
| Research questions | 1. How stable are the size distributions of the oscar, A. ocellatus, and white piranha, S. rhombeus, in the Samiria River, given constant fishing quotas and a drought in 2010?
2. Would you recommend adjusting the fishing quota for either species? |
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| Keywords | abiotic; amazon; biotic; climate change; ecosystem; fishing;human impact; global warming; overfishing; population; sampling; sustainability; | |
| Potential Curriculum links | AP Biology | 4.B.3 |
| AP Env Sci | IV Land and Water use F.Fishing | |
| IB Biology | C.2, C.5 | |
| IB Ess | 3.4.3, 4.1.5 | |
| AQA | 3.4.6, 3.4.7, 3.7.4, MS, AT, PS | |
| edexcel | A – 5.20, B – 10.3, 10.4 Maths A | |
| OCR | A – 4.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.3.2 B – 4.3.2 – M, PAG, HSW | |
| SQA | FH2J 3 (b) (c) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) | |
| CCEA | (4.4.16, 4.4.17) | |
| WJEC | C1-5, C1-6, C2 -1, App B, Pract.req. | |
| Summary | A study carried out on a tributary of the Amazon River which looked at fish stocks for 2 species of fish (an Oscar and a Piranha) over a five year period. The study looks for evidence of change in population number and structure and relates these to the fishing activities of local communities and the possible effects of a severe drought in 2010. Analysis uses class interval or bin widths to compare the fish populations. The study provides a good opportunity to discuss sustainability of fish stocks in delicate ecosystems such as the Amazon river and provoke further thoughts about current threats such as climate disruption/change. For those keen to practice statistics, the data would be very suitable for further statistical treatment in order to determine degrees of significance over time. Research Objectives 1 and 2: 6/10 |
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