Sex and the Single Guppy

Sex and the Single Guppy The purpose of this activity is to analyze how guppy populations change over time. The simulation activity allows you to start with a pool of guppies and your choice of predators, you will be able to watch what happens to your guppy population and how the introduction of predators can affect the guppy's appearance. The simulation will help you understand what pressures drive guppy evolution. *Activity adapted from PBS - http://www.pbs.org

Open the Guppy Sex Simulator!!!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/ed_pop.html

Introduction:

1. If being flashy and colorful attracts predators, why do you think guppies are so colorful?

I don't exactly understand this question.

2. After viewing the guppy gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish’s scientific name, origin and average size? Describe the coloration of the fish you chose.

Screen shot 2010-10-27 at 9.52.08 AM.png 294×152 pixels This is the Poecilia reticulata, it comes from Peru and is 3.5cm(1.4 in.). It is bright in coloration. I decided to name ii Carl Paul Roberto Magic Johnson Franmire.

3. After viewing the predator gallery, pick the fish you find most interesting. What is the fish’s common name, scientific name, and origin?

Screen shot 2010-10-27 at 9.58.19 AM.png 326×188 pixels This is the Rivilus hartii, it comes from The Caribbean and Latin America

4. View the guppy’s habitats, what habitat conditions would affect the predator populations?

Endler’s Discovery and Variations of Guppy’s in Pools

5. Who is John Endler? What did he study and where did he study it?


6. For each of the three stream areas, describe the guppy coloration:

Pool 1: Even

Pool 2: Even

Pool 3: Mostly Bright


7. Develop your own hypothesis about guppy coloration. The hypothesis should answer the questions: Why do guppies in different areas of the stream have difference in coloration? (You can choose from the list on the simulation, or make up your own)

Evolution probably.

Guppy Simulation

	% of Brightest Guppies (10 generations)	% of Bright Guppies (10 generations)	% of Drab Guppies (10 generations)	% of DrabbestGuppies (10 generations)
Trial 1 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus	58%	15%	9%	19%
Trial 2 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara	3%	39%	58%	0%
Trial 3 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	0%	8%	5%	86%
Trial 4 Guppy: Mostly Bright Predators: 30 Rivulus	64%	33%	3%	1%
Trial 5 Guppy: Mostly Drab Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	0%	0%	11%	89%

Summary

8. Describe how predators influence guppy coloration.



9. Was your hypothesis correct, use your data to justify your answer.



10. What does it mean that “male guppies live in a crossfire between their enemies and their would be mates”?




11. Why do you think guppies in different areas of the stream have different coloration?




12. What would happen to mostly drab guppies that were placed in a stream with very few predators?

13. What would happen to brightly colored guppies that were placed in a stream with many predators?

Biodiversity

"The Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary was established in 1989 to protect and preserve the..." Read More

Based on this, some ways in which preserving biodiversity locally will preserve it on a more global scale could be using less paper and killing less trees. This will prevent deforestation and save habitats of animals that would otherwise have been nearly killed off. Habitat destruction and loss of species created somewhat of a Butterfly Effect. One species dies off and then another one goes hungry and dies off too. This causes more and more species to die out until the whole ecosystem falls apart. This isn't even the worst case scenario. The worst would be an animal that isn't the bottom of the food chain dieing out, and then overpopulation of smaller animals would ravage the ecosystem. If you preserve biodiversity in the population of cows, then maybe it will result in a surplus of beef and beef jerky.

Gasses and Climate Change

DEMO NUMBER ONE

Hypothesis: If the gas in the bottle combusts then it will burst into flames.

Observation: I think Mrs. Leland coated the bottle more than expected because that bottle shot off like a rocket. The gasses on the inside combusted and pushed the bottle off of the table.

DEMO NUMBER TWO

Hypothesis: If the gas is suddenly introduced to the flame then the flame will grow.

Observation: Awe... The flame was snuffed out. :(

DEMO NUMBER THREE

Hypothesis: If we light hidrogen gas then it will burn up.

Observation: The hidrogen gas burnt up.

DEMO NUMBER FOUR

Demo Test Number 1.)

Hypothesis: If the can has warm water in it and is placed into ice water then the can will become crushed under pressure.

Observation: Nothing happened, probably because there was an opening on top. The second test will probably do better

Demo Test Number 2.)

Hypothesis: If the can has warm water in it and is placed into ice water then the can will become crushed under pressure. Only if she inverts the top though.

Observation: The can crushed under pressure.

Chernobyl Video: Response

I can't believe this. The kid with the extremely long leg almost made me throw up and cry at the same time. This video is messed up. I'll never watch it again. I can sit through every horror movie ever made, some that can't be named at school, and I still want to throw up after watching this. This will give me nightmares, horrible nightmares. I haven't had nightmares since I was 5 years old. The Chernobyl disaster gives me the fear that one day in our lifetime the Arizona nuclear reactor will do this. I don't want my children to have these birth defects, I don't want their children to and I don't want their children's children to. This has to be stopped or at least handled with more care by more professional people. Nuclear energy should be banned.

1.) What caused the toxic waste to begin being pushed to the surface?

In the winter of 1977 when the snow began to thaw, the water runoff sank under the canal and made the chemicals to be pushed above the surface.

2.) What are some of the health hazards associated with the chemicals dumped there?

Many of the chemicals dumped into the canal are known to cause cancer.

3.) Besides humans how are other parts of the ecosystem affected by this?

The chemicals rushed into nearby creeks and contaminated numerous animals habitats, killing many animals.

8th Grade DLC Reflection

1. What types of Chemical dispersants are the most toxic.

2. Why would the govenment want to save animals by killing them.

3. Who got the idea that trying to help is the same as killing animals.