HUNTING SESSION I Prey 1 Prey 2 Prey 3 Total HUNTING SESSION 2 Prey 2 Prey 3 Fork Knife Spoon Fingers Total Prey Total HUNTING SESSION 3 Prey 1 Prey 2 Fork Knife Spoon Fingers Total Prey Prey 3 Prey 1 Total Fork Knife Spoon Fingers Fingers Total Prey
Topic: NATURAL SELECTION ACTIVITY
Simulate a case of natural selection in a predator-prey situation.
STEP 1 Gather your materials. You should have:
. 1 fork, 1 knife, 1 spoon, and a length of tape (each will be used to
establish the distinct predator "feeding apparatuses")
· 4 cups (each will serve as a distinct predator's "mouth")
· 3 types of prey (such as popcorn, macaroni, and kidney beans)
· 1 clearly delineated habitat (such as a table, a box, or a roped-off area
of ground)
. 1 timer that allows for counting by seconds (such as a watch or cell
phone)
STEP 2 Set up the predators. There is variation in predatory feeding apparatuses in this population. You will choose one of the available predator feeding apparatuses: fork, spoon, knife, or four fingers (with your thumb taped to your hand so that you cannot use it). You will also take a cup, which will represent the predator's mouth. Your goal will be to use your feeding apparatus to collect food and put it in
your mouth.
STEP 3 Set up the prey in the environment. You should have 100 of each prey type. Distribute your prey evenly in a habitat, and be sure to mix the prey so that each type is found throughout the habitat.
STEP 4 Establish your hypotheses:
1. Which prey type do you think will be the most fit and avoid capture more often than the other prey types?
2. Which predator do you think will be the most fit and succeed in capturing the most prey?
STEP 5 Simulate hunting session 1. Distribute yourselves (the predators) around the habitat full of prey. You will be given 60 seconds to hunt for prey. You must pick up the prey with your feeding apparatus and place it in
your cup (your predator's mouth). Your cup must remain flat on the table or ground at all times and cannot be used to help you scrape or scoop up prey. You may hunt prey that is being hunted by other predators. Set a timer for
60 seconds (or use a watch to monitor the time), and begin hunting.
STEP 6 Record your results. After the end of your 60 seconds of hunting, record the number of prey collected by each predator in the appropriate chart provided here. Be sure to identify which prey types you have
designated as prey 1, 2, and 3 in the chart. Set these captured prey aside.They are dead and will not produce offspring.
STEP 7 Reestablish the predators. The predators that collected the most prey are well fed and producing offspring. The predator that collected the least amount of prey is underfed and will not produce offspring. This
underfed predator will not participate in future hunts, but the group membershould still follow along and record the outcomes of the others' hunts in his or her charts. In addition, if any predators have broken their feeding
apparatus, they are also underfed and do not produce offspring. They, too, will sit out future hunts, but continue recording results.
STEP 8 Reestablish the environment. Only the prey that have survived the hunt can reproduce. Determine the number of survivors for each prey type. Add in enough of each surviving prey type to double their numbers in the
next generation. Be sure to distribute them evenly in the habitat.
STEP 9 Repeat Steps 5 through 8 for two more hunting sessions. Continue to eliminate underfed predators and double surviving prey. Be sure to keep track of your results in the photo charts provided for each hunting session.
STEP 10 Use your results from photo chart to answer the following questions.
3. Which prey type was the best suited to the environmental context? What data do you have to support this conclusion?
4. Which predator was the best suited to the environmental context? What data do you have to support this conclusion?
5. In what ways does this activity demonstrate the process of natural selection and its consequences?
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