Biology soph bird beak activity 2 period

Natural Selection Activity         Students_

collect data from the rest of the class, record the average yield for each prey and predator

Data Table 1b		Beak Types               Record Data on this Handout
Results - Stations 1-5		scissors	chopsticks	clothespins	spoons	tweezers
Prey Type	pennies	2	2	1	9	6
	small pebbles	2	3	2	8	12
	Pipette tips	5	12	7	5	16
	paper clips	9	13	6	8	17
	Q Tips	16	14	11	11	20

 

Results - Stations 1-5		Beak Types Data Table 2b                  Record Data on this Handout
		scissors	chopsticks	clothespins	spoons	tweezers
Prey Type	Q T ips	20	20	15	4	25
	large pebbles	2	8	4	14	19
	Pipette tips	7	15	7	6	20
	paper clips	15	10	8	6	25

Answer the following questions. Use a separate sheet of paper that you will attach to the group data tables

Part 1

1. Which prey items were preferred (highest yield) by more than one predator?
2. Could all of these predators coexist in a single habitat? Why or why not?
3. What happened when resources became limited?
4. Which predators (beak types) would have survived and likely reproduced more?
5. Is there a predator in this environment that would have been selected against?

Part 2

1. How did the change in environment affect the birds?
2. What types of resources can be limited in an environment? List five examples.
3. Were particular birds adversely affected?
4. Did any group of birds do better in this new wet environment?  If so, which ones?
5. Which birds would likely have more offspring?
6. Is the effect on the survival and reproduction of these birds an example of natural selection or artificial selection? How are they different?
7. Does natural selection operate on individuals or populations? Explain.
8. Can an individual member of a species evolve? Explain.