Most species of wild cats are endangered including the bobcat. This project explores the behavior of a bobcat population using growth rate data from the state of Florida (from Cox, et. al., Closing the Gaps in Florida's Wildlife Habitat Conservation System [13]). We know annual growth rates for bobcats under best (r = 0.01676), medium (r = 0.00549), and worst (r = -0.04500) environmental conditions. For this project, assume that growth rates are constant from year to year (com W consider each growth rate as representing a different region in Florida.

3. You should have noticed that under the best conditions the population is growing. Several management plans have been discussed. The first is to allow one bobcat per year to be hunted. The second is to allow five bobcats per year to be hunted. The third is to allow one percent of the animals to be hunted. The last is to let five percent of the animals be hunted. Construct a simulation which compares these strategies over 10 and25 years. Which of these strategies result in a stable population?

4. Continuing with the theme of part 3, experiment to find strategies which cause the population to stabilize. Find a strategy(which can be more involved than just subtracting a fixed number or percentage) which causes the population to rise to 200 animals (give or take an animal or two) and then stabilize.

5. Youshouldalsohavenoticedthatundertheworstconditionsthepopulationis declining. Proposed management plans include adding three animals per year, adding 10 animals per year, adding one percent of the population each year, and adding five percent of the population each year. Compare these strategies for 10 and 25 years. Which strategies cause the population to stabilize?

6. Experiment to find strategies which will cause the population under the worst conditions to stabilize at 50 and at 200 animals.