My Math Study

My Math Study 2007

Teacher as Investigator Program
Description of the Teacher as Investigator Program.

Santa Catalina Island
My research was centered around species on Santa Catalina Island, namely the American Bison, Catalina Island Fox, Golden Eagle, and Bald Eagle. This section explains some history of the Island, and the importance of these species on the Island's ecosystem and culture.

American Bison - Bison bison
How many Buffalo must be culled each year to maintain a sustainable population on Santa Catalina Island that will not be detrimental to native species (Apx. 250 head).

Catalina Island Fox - Urocyon littoralis
The interrelationship between the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis). How the hyperpredation of the Golden Eagle has seriously effected the Fox population and how the reintroduction of the Bald Eagle will counter- act this.

References

My Math Study 2007

For the month of June 2007 I spent five weeks at Northern Arizona University working on a research grant. We were considered "teachers as investigators" and we spent our days doing science and math research. I spent my research time investigating population models of species that are important to Santa Catalina Island.

Santa Catalina Island is one of the larger islands in the Channel Islands off the coast of California. It has been a vacation favorite for decades and has been owned by the Wrigly's. It is now mostly owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy Agency which strives to protect the natural environment and the ingrained culture of the island.

Michael J. Matteson E-MAIL