Lecture Notes: Rat Population Explosion on Abandoned Cargo Ship

Introduction

• Scene set: cargo ship carrying 30,000 tons of wheat, crew missing but not abandoned.
• Rats have taken over the ship.

Rat Behavior and Reproduction

• Historical Context: Previously, crews battled rats with traps and poisons.
• Rats' Eating Habits:
  • Large rats (12-13 ounces) can consume 15% of their body weight daily.
• Reproduction Rate:
  • Female rats can produce 6 litters per year, about a dozen in each litter.
  • Young rats are capable of breeding at just 3 months old.
• Population Growth:
  • A pair of rats can yield 2,000 offspring in just one year.
• Current Situation:
  • Rats on the cargo ship have experienced a population explosion.

Ship Conditions

• The hold of the ship is overcrowded with breeding rats.
• Water Supply:
  • Rats require half an ounce of water daily, which they are getting from rainwater.
• Ship Problems:
  • With no humans operating the bilge pumps, the ship is taking on water.
  • Seawater is saturating the grain, leading to further issues for the rats.

Consequences of Overpopulation

• Thousands of rats flee to upper decks due to flooding.
• The situation turns dire as cannibalism and starvation occur among the rats.
• The end result:
  • All rats are dead, either from starvation or cannibalism.
  • Their bodies become food for hungry sea birds.

Conclusion

• The presentation highlights the rapid and devastating impacts of rat overpopulation in a confined environment, leading to inevitable collapse.