Reindeer Population

Reindeer Population

By Nicholas Hendley

Background

In 1911, 25 reindeer (4 males and 21 females) were introduced onto St. Paul Island. St. Paul Island is approximately 41 square miles in size and is more than 200 miles from the mainland. There were no predators of the reindeer and no hunting of the reindeer was allowed.

This graph on the left represents the population of the deer over the next few decades once they were introduced in 1911.

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

St. Paul Island

Multiple Choice

What was the size of the reindeer population in 1911?

• 0

• 25

• 50

• 100

Multiple Choice

What was the size of the reindeer population in 1920?

• 50

• 100

• 200

• 300

Multiple Choice

What was the difference in the reindeer population between 1911 and 1920?

• 50

• 150

• 175

• 225

Multiple Choice

What was the size of the reindeer population in 1930?

• 200

• 400

• 500

• 75

Multiple Choice

What was the difference in reindeer population size between 1920 and 1930?

• 200

• 100

• 300

• 5

Multiple Choice

During which years was the increase in the reindeer population size greatest?

• 1910-1920

• 1920-1930

• 1930-1940

• 1940-1950

Multiple Choice

What was the greatest number of reindeer between 1910 and 1950?

• 1950

• 2000

• 1000

• 500

Multiple Choice

In what year did the reindeer population reach its greatest number?

• 1940

• 1937

• 1938

• 1939

Open Ended

Could emigration or immigration have played a major role in determining the size of the reindeer population? Explain why or why not for each.

Open Ended

What might account for the tremendous increase in the population of reindeer between 1930 and 1938 as compared with the rate of growth during the first few years the reindeer were on the island?

Multiple Choice

What would happen to the island and its vegetation as a result of the 2000 reindeer living there?

• It would decrease as more would be needed to support the reindeer population.

• It would decrease as more would be fertilized by the reindeer droppings.

• It would increase as more would be needed in order to support the reindeer population.

• It would increase as more would be fertilized by the reindeer droppings.

Open Ended

Consider all of the factors an organism requires to live. What might have happened on the island to cause the change in population size between 1938 and 1950?

Open Ended

What SPECIFIC evidence is there that the carrying capacity for reindeer on this island was exceeded?

Open Ended

What SPECIFIC difference might hunters and predators have made on the population size of the reindeer?