This assignment will be due on Friday February first and is our first group assignment.
For this assignment you are to imagine that your group has been hired as consultants to a conservation organization. Currently the organization is attempting to save the kakapo . They have asked you develop mathematical models in order to improve their understanding of how to handle the kakapo's predicament as well as to help explain how the Kakapo arrived in its current predicamen, in order to help prevent other species from experiencing a similar phenomena.
Your group's report must contain the following technical components:
1. Develop a (or several possible) differential equation(s) that attempts to model the Kakapo population and its environment before the arrival of people and all that came with them. Describe the possible changes that this model will undergo when various human related human related factors are introduced. Solve the equations you develop and describe what happens to the Kakapo population. Notice this will involve making many assumptions, clearly most will be hypothetical but should be based on any information about Kakapo that you are able to find.
2. Currently their are very few kakapo. Attempt to find a differential equation which models he current kakapo situation and discuss any factors which you feel might make this a difficult endeavor (even if you have lots of funding and data). Some ideas about the issues involved in modeling small population can be found in the articles at the end of chapter 3.
Once these technical components are out of the way you should attempt to articulate your findings in such a way that the members of the conservation organization will be able to both understand and use them.