Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Sex and the Single Guppy The purpose of this activity is to analyze how guppy populations change over time. The simulation activity allows you to start with a pool of guppies and your choice of predators, you will be able to watch what happens to your guppy population and how the introduction of predators can affect the guppy's appearance. The simulation will help you understand what pressures drive guppy evolution. *Activity adapted from PBS http://www.pbs.org Introduction First of all, familiarize yourself with the site. You should know each of the following before proceeding to the simulation. View the guppy gallery, know the color variations found among guppies View the predator gallery, know the types of predators of guppies Read about John Endler's experiment View the three types of pools and know what guppy colors are common in each area Read the three possible hypotheses for guppy coloration Experiment Sexual selection and predation both play roles in the evolution of guppies. Both can affect the coloration of male guppies. In this experiment, you will attempt to answer the following question: QUESTION: To what degree do predation and sexual selection affect guppy coloration? (Which has a greater effect, or do they work equally to influence guppy populations?) Open the Guppy Sex Simulator!!! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/ed_pop.html Introduction: 1. If being flashy and colorful attracts predators, why do you think guppies are so colorful? 2. View the guppy’s habitats, what habitat conditions would affect the predator populations? Endler’s Discovery and Variations of Guppy’s in Pools 3. Who is John Endler? What did he study and where did he study it? 4. For each of the three stream areas, describe the guppy coloration: Pool 1: Pool 2: Pool 3: 5. Develop your own hypothesis about guppy coloration. The hypothesis should answer the questions: Why do guppies in different areas of the stream have difference in coloration? (You can choose from the list on the simulation, or make up your own) Guppy Simulation In this part of the project, you will run 3 experiments and collect data about guppy populations. This data will then be analyzed to determine whether your hypothesis was correct or not. Make sure each simulation runs through at least 5 generations. Trial 1 Guppy Color Types ___________________________________ Predator Species and Numbers _________________________ Results and Analysis: Percentage of Brightest Guppies after 5 generations ______ Percentage of Bright Guppies after 5 generations ________ Percentage of Drab Guppies after 5 generations _________ Percentage of Drabbest Guppies after 5 generations ________ Analysis of the data: (What happened in this simulation, did the guppy coloration change over time? Did the predators seem to affect guppy Coloration? ) Trial 2 Guppy Color Types ___________________________________ Predator Species and Numbers _________________________ Results and Analysis: Percentage of Brightest Guppies after 5 generations ______ Percentage of Bright Guppies after 5 generations ________ Percentage of Drab Guppies after 5 generations _________ Percentage of Drabbest Guppies after 5 generations ________ Analysis of the data: (What happened in this simulation, did the guppy coloration change over time? Did the predators seem to affect guppy Coloration? ) Trial 3 Guppy Color Types ___________________________________ Predator Species and Numbers _________________________ Results and Analysis: Percentage of Brightest Guppies after 5 generations ______ Percentage of Bright Guppies after 5 generations ________ Percentage of Drab Guppies after 5 generations _________ Percentage of Drabbest Guppies after 5 generations ________ Analysis of the data: (What happened in this simulation, did the guppy coloration change over time? Did the predators seem to affect guppy Coloration? ) Summary 1. Describe how predators influence guppy coloration. 2. Was your hypothesis correct, use your data to justify your answer. 3. What does it mean that “male guppies live in a crossfire between their enemies and their would be mates”? 4. Why do you think guppies in different areas of the stream have different coloration? 5. How does the number of predators affect the number of brightly colored guppies? More about Sexual Selection - extra credit if you have the time to read this article. Read the article in Scientific American titled: “How Females Choose Their Mates” http://www.sciam.com/1998/0498issue/0498dugatkin.html After reading the article, summarize an example of female mate choice. Describe how the female of the species chooses a mate, and explain some possible reasons or benefits she gains from that particular choice. Suggest three reasons for females choosing a flashy or conspicuous mate. How does social pressure affect the mating behavior of guppies? (Hint: click on guppy behavior picture)