Natural Selection Lab Overview

Natural Selection Lab Overview

• Students will engage in a lab on natural selection, utilizing a simulation to gather data.
• The aim is to perform calculations based on the collected data, a process applicable across different datasets.

Simulation Details

• Simulation replicates a natural habitat, typically a grassy area with varying colors to reflect different grass conditions.
• Prey in this simulation are represented by toothpicks, available in four colors: natural, red, green, and black.
• Initial prey distribution includes 150 of each color, totaling 600 toothpicks across the habitat.

Prey Variation and Camouflage

• Prey variation affects visibility; some colors blend better into the environment, impacting predation rates.
• Predators (students) will catch prey based on how well they can camouflage against the habitat background.

Predator Population

• Student participants act as predators, each assigned a different mouth part representing predator phenotype: fork, spoon, forceps, tongue depressor, or chopstick.
• The effectiveness of each mouth part varies, influencing the success of prey capture.

Collection Process

• Students use their assigned mouth part to gather as much prey as possible within a 60-second timeframe.
• The process demonstrates the correlation between predation success and survival; more prey consumption leads to higher chances of survival and reproduction.

Experiment Setup

• Sixteen students participate, with varying distribution of mouth parts: five with spoons, five with tongue depressors, five with forceps, five with chopsticks, and six with forks.
• The simulation consists of four rounds of predation to evaluate the effectiveness of different phenotypes over time.

Learning Outcome

• The lab demonstrates key principles of natural selection, including adaptation, survival of the fittest, and the importance of phenotypes in predator-prey relationships.

This quiz covers the Natural Selection Lab where students simulate a natural habitat to study prey variation and camouflage. Participants will gather data on predation rates based on the visibility of different colored prey in the simulation. The lab enhances understanding of natural selection processes through hands-on interaction and calculations.