Kim Eschler- Evolution Lab Report

EVOLUTION LAB REPORT 1

Evolution Lab Report

Kim Eschler

BIO 101

June 28, 2011

Olivia Uitto


Evolution Lab Report

The Evolution Lab allows the user to experiment with the finches’ adaptation and

evolution of their population over 100, 200, and 300 years. The experiments is locations

are Darwin Island and Wallace Island. Using various parameters that influence

adaptations and natural selection, the user can study the evolution process.

Hypothesis.

Beak size and precipitation will have an immense effect on the population.

The size of the island will affect the population.

The larger the clutch the higher the population over time.

Materials and Methods.

The Evolution Lab provides many variables. The user can change the following:

beak size, variance of beak size in the population, heritability of the midparent beak

size, clutch size, island size, population of the finches to start the experiment, and

precipitation on the island as it affects the harness of seeds.

All of the numerous combinations of variables, set for two different islands lends

for hours of combinations and sorting of information. The method this experimenter

used to narrow down the countless options was to first focus on the beak size and

precipitation for Darwin Island by changing the variables, recording the field notes for

the population in 100 years. Second, keep the highest population information from the

previous test and examine what changing the clutch size does to the population. Taking

the information for the highest population from these two tests, the process was then

repeated for island size, starting population, heritability, and variance. The goal in this

process of testing was to see what parameters would need to be in place to allow the


population of the finches to sustain at their highest population numbers for 100, 200,

and 300 years.

Once the information for this experiment had been obtained, this experimenter

had to continuing the testing to see how quickly the finches’ population could be

whipped out on both islands. Using the same testing method as above but watching the

field notes for the population to become 0.

Results.

Beak size and precipitation did make a huge difference in the population of the

finches. Small beaks and hard seeds did not favor the birds, large beaks and soft seed

did not favor them, either. Larger island, helped the population, and smaller island hurt

the population. Starting population was surprising, one would think the larger the

population to start would ensure the long-term population for the birds, but it actually

had a negative effect on the population. The biggest surprise to affect the population

size was clutch. If the clutch size was too big or too small the differences were

catastrophic.

ParameterDarwin Island

Wallace Island

Initial Beak Size 30 mm 30 mm

Heritability 0.5 0.5Variance 1 1

Clutch Size 16 eggs 16 eggsPrecipitation 10 cm 10 cmPopulation 290 birds 290 birds

Results Darwin Island

Wallace Island

yr. 2096 1980 1975yr. 2196 1992 1803yr. 2296 1889 1933


On the opposite side of the population count, using the information from above,

lowering the population of the finches was easy. In testing it was found that small beak

and hard food, or large beaks and soft food, small clutches, and a small island where

very detrimental to the birds’ population.

ParameterDarwin Island

Wallace Island

Initial Beak Size 10 mm 10 mm

Heritability 0 0Variance 0 0

Clutch Size 2 eggs 2 eggsPrecipitation 0 cm 0 cmPopulation 50 birds 50 birds

Results Darwin Island

Wallace Island

yr. 1997 50 50yr. 1998 2 8yr. 1999 0 0

This researcher found that the same parameters effected each island the same,

but someone how the islands did affect each other. If the population numbers were low

on one island, the other island was also lower, even with the grater adaptation

advantages. Another observation is that the Evolution Lab is a program, which has

various calculations to create the outcomes of the results given. This tester could not

arrive at the same results repeatedly, even when none of the parameters had been

changed.

Conclusion

Adaptation is the evolutionary process in which a population becomes better

suited to live in the environment in which it lives. This experiment allowed actual testing


that has been done and recorded to be manipulated and controlled to teach how small

changes in the finches’ adaptation can help or hinder its population. Survival of the

fittest is still very much alive and surviving in the animal kingdom, adapt or die out.


References

Evolution Lab (2011) Evolution Lab. Retrieved on June 22, 2011 from

http://www.biologylabsonline.com/axia/EvolutionLab/evlab.php.

Documents

Kim Eschler- Evolution Lab Report