Case Study: Cuyahoga County

1. Before sampling began, observations were made while examining each population’s distribution pattern. The red-capped introverts have a uniform distribution due to their even spacing between organisms. The blue-footed wanderers have a random distribution as a result of their unpredictable spacing. Lastly, the green-chested bar-hoppers have a clumped distribution as they were together in groups or “clumps”.
There are other ways to determine which population distribution pattern a population has, other than studying them visually. For example, using the quadrat-sampling method is an accurate way to find distribution patterns. “While using quadrat sampling, sample plots of uniform size and shape, placed at randomly selected sites.
The Ohio population is an improved visual to show its clumped distribution since it shows several “clumps”. One factor which affects how gas stations are distributed is based on the population distribution of humans. The increased number of people around, the more resources which will need to be available. Gasoline is a resource an abundance of people need to travel to their job, home, and other various places. Numerous people live in the Cleveland area and in the surrounding suburbs of Cuyahoga County, of course higher number of gas stations are expected to be made available for those in the area. There are also other areas in Ohio, where other “clumps” are located. Plentiful amounts of gas stations are needed for the people around there too. (ADD ANOTHER FACTOR). When relating the distribution of gas stations in both Cuyahoga County and Ohio to biological/ecological factors, resource competition becomes a factor. Gas station companies are trying to compete with each other to achieve success by placing themselves in locations where copious amounts of people will need gasoline. Similarly to organisms in ecosystems compete for resources and gather around areas where resources are available (Spatial Distribution of Species 7). (ADD ANOTHER BIOLOGICAL