30 May PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
BI 213
PREDATOR/PREY EXERCISE
MATERIALS:
200 beans
Spoons
RULES:
1. Students with spoons are the predators. Predator population at time 0 is 5 (100%).
2. Beans are the prey. Prey population at time 0 is 200 (100%).
3. Each generation lasts 30 seconds during which predators will attempt to capture as many prey as possible. Predators may not “herd” prey, and may not use their collecting cups to aid prey capture. No physical contact is allowed between predators as they compete for prey.
4. At the end of each generation, surviving prey will reproduce three times, up to a maximum of 200 (the carrying capacity of their habitat). When survival and reproduction of prey results in a population of less than 190, an additional 10 prey will migrate in from surrounding populations.
5. At the end of each generation, predators reproduce once for every 20 prey they capture. Those with less than 10 prey starve to death. If the predator population becomes locally extinct, 1 predator will migrate in from an adjacent population at the end of the next generation (predators will remain at 0 for 2 generations while prey population continues to reproduce and gain migrants).
6. Numbers of predators and prey are tallied at the end of each generation and graphed as a percentage of their starting populations.
ASSIGNMENT:
Write an Introduction explaining the dynamics of predator/prey interactions, give a brief description of Methods, include a graph of the lab Results, and Discuss their relationship to predator/prey dynamics in nature. Also include any suggestions that may improve this lab.
|
Category |
COMMENTS |
% |
|
FORMATTING, ORGANIZATION |
Be sure to use APA format. Use headings and subheadings. |
/5 |
|
INTRODUCTION |
Explain the dynamics of predator/prey interactions and introduce the experiment.
|
/25 |
|
METHODS |
Briefly describe the methods.
|
/10 |
|
RESULTS |
Include a graph with the results. Provide an introductory paragraph to this section before you present the graph. Then, include a narrative telling the reader what they are viewing in the data.
|
/15 |
|
DISCUSSION |
Discuss the relationship to predator/prey dynamics within the context of the experiment and then how our experiment is linked with nature.
|
/25 |
|
CITATIONS |
Provide at least three citations. Include intext citations an a reference page.
|
/15 |
|
WRITING |
|
/5 |
|
TOTAL: |
|
/100 |
