Predator and Prey Lab
This lab was performed by cutting out 100 small squares of five different colors, representing prey. There were twenty squares each of yellow, blue, red, green, and black that were spread evenly on a one by one meter newspaper. Two people then began to pick up the squares until only 25 remained. The field of prey was then replenished by adding three similarly colored squares for each "survivor" to replicate reproduction and the results were tallied. This action was performed three more times, yielding the following results:
How do the original and surviving prey populations compare?
The black and blue populations increased greatly, while all the others decreased with each successive generation.
How did the colors of each type of prey affect its population size over time?
The darker colors saw their population grow while brighter colors saw their populations decline over time.
What color(s) seemed to camouflage the best in this habitat? What color(s) seemed to stand out the most?
Black and blue were the best camouflaged while green and especially red and yellow stood out the most.
4) Predict how the data would change if the experiment continued? Explain the answer.
Since there are many more of the black and blue squares, they would be the ones removed more often, leaving more of the other colors to replenish their ranks.
5) How would these results change if the colors or patterns of the habitat were to change?
If the colors of the habitat were brighter to match the brighter colors, the darker colors would be the ones with a depleting population. Patterns that hide the squares might also change the outcome to make all colors more equal in how they are depleted.
6) Identify at least 2 things that are unrealistic and 2 things that are realistic about this exercise.
It is unrealistic to assume that animals in the wild would consist of only one solid color or that they would exist in simple habitats such as a black and white newspaper. It is also not realistic to assume that predators would stop attacking with a predetermined number of prey remaining. It is realistic that the prey that is most easily spotted would be attacked and killed more than those that blend in better. It also follows that animals that blend into their surroundings better will flourish and thrive in that environment.
7) What traits could help a predator be more "fit" in this model environment?
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