Natural Selections Lab —Text Version
Introduction:
In this lab, we will explore the scientific theory of evolution by recognizing and explaining ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity of organisms. Predators will act as agents of selection on the prey, a species whose members vary in color.
Objective:
In this lab, you will learn to:
identify different types of evolutionary adaptations such as camouflage, mimicry, body shape, and teeth/beak types
explain ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity
simulate the effects of natural selection and genetic variation under specific environmental conditions
Let's learn how rabbits adapted to predation.
Brown and white rabbits are very different when it comes to survival in the environment. White rabbits are better suited to survive in the winter when their fur camouflages with the snow. This allows them to blend in with their environment and hide from predators. Brown rabbits are better suited in the other seasons when their fur matches the rocks, tree bark, and dirt. The ability of the rabbits to blend in with their environment helps them to be less of a target for predators. The difference in color is due to genetic variation.
There would be nowhere for the brown rabbit to hide without being seen by the predator. The white rabbit could easily hide from any predator since it blends in with the snow. In the summer months, the white rabbit would have a difficult time hiding from predators.
Predator Background Information:
Now we will take a closer look at how the rabbits camouflage with their environment.
First, drag the white rabbit on each type of background shown on the screen. Then drag the brown rabbit on each background. Observe the differences.
As you can see, the white-colored rabbit is camouflaged on the white snow, hence making it hard for predators to see and attack it.
Due to the fact that the white rabbit can easily be seen on the brown bark, it is vulnerable to attacks from predators. This makes the brown rabbit more suited for that environment.
There are many predators that prey on rabbits. Some examples of predators are wolves, fox, wild cats, hawks.
Hypothesis:
What do you think will happen to the rabbit population when put in different environments?
The environment with snow will have an increase in population of white rabbits over time.
The environment with snow will have a decrease in population of the light-colored rabbits over time.
The wooded environment will have an increase in population of light-colored rabbits over time.
The wooded environment will have a decreased in population of light-colored rabbits over time.
Simulation:
Get ready, get set! Rabbits will be released on your chosen environment. The predatory bird can be controlled and will eat the rabbits that are visible in that environment. The rabbits will be eaten for 5 generations. At the end of each generation, record the remaining rabbit percentages.
Data Table
Generation White Rabbit Brown Rabbit
1
2
3
4
5
Conclusion:
The rabbit simulation should have given you a good idea of how natural selection works. Let's summarize your observations from this lab:
identify different types of evolutionary adaptations such as camouflage, mimicry, body shape, and teeth/beak types
explain ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity
simulate the effects of natural selection and genetic variation under specific environmental conditions
Now you have come to the end of the lab.
Remember to copy the data table into your lab report or print your data table.
In this lab, we explored the concept of natural selection and how it contributes to the diversity of organisms. We focused on how genetic variation and environmental factors affect the survival and adaptation of rabbits to predation.
We learned that white rabbits are better suited to survive in snowy environments due to their fur color camouflaging with the snow. In contrast, brown rabbits are better adapted to non-snowy environments where their fur color matches the rocks, tree bark, and dirt. This difference in color is a result of genetic variation.
Through the simulation, we observed that the white rabbits had a higher chance of survival and population increase in the snowy environment, while the brown rabbits had a higher chance of survival and population increase in the non-snowy environment. This demonstrates how natural selection favors traits that are advantageous in specific environmental conditions.
Overall, this lab helped us understand how evolutionary adaptations such as camouflage can enhance an organism's survival and how genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to the process of natural selection and the diversity of organisms.