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Guppies Simulation

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

To find mates and because certain predators don’t like the flashy colors and stay away from them.

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.

Poecilia Reticulata, peru, 1.4", male. Purple, blue, pink and a little bit of green and yellow.


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

Fat sleeper; Dormitator Maculatus; Southern North America, Bahamas, and Latin America.

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

The habitat we chose had deep pools so it could hold bigger populations of guppies AND predators.

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

John Endler is an evolutionary biologist who studied Trinidad’s wild guppies in the 1970’s.

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

Pool 1: Bright multi-colored with large spots

Pool 2: Medium coloration on body and tail with medium sized spots

Pool 3: Drab coloration, very small spots concentrated near the tail


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)

The coloration of the guppies would be different in different areas because of the types and amount of predators.


Summary
8. Describe how predators influence guppy coloration.

Predators influence guppy coloration because certain predators prefer certain colors of guppies.


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

Yes, our hypothesis was proved correct. Some predators (rivulus) like the drab colored guppies more than the brightly colored ones so the bright ones would thrive while the drab colored ones would not. On the other hand, the pike cichlids and the acara like the brightly colored guppies, so the opposite situation occurs.


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

The brightly colored male guppies are more attractive to the females, but also easier for predators to spot and attack.


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

They have different coloration because the predators of those areas like eat coloration.


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

It depends on the predators. If it was the Rivulus, then they would be eaten more than if the predators were the Blue Acara or the Pike Cichlid.


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

It depends on the predators. If they were the Blue Acara or the Pike Cichlid then they would be eaten more than if the predator was the Rivulus.

	% 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	brightest: 52%	bright: 26%	drab: 15%	drabbest: 8%
Trial 2 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara	brightest: 10%	bright: 79%	drab: 12%	drabbest: 0%
Trial 3 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	brightest: 1%	bright: 0%	drab: 9%	drabbest: 90%
Trial 4 Guppy: Mostly Bright Predators: 30 Rivulus	brightest: 84%	bright: 10%	drab: 5%	drabbest: 1%
Trial 5 Guppy: Mostly Drab Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	brightest: 0%	bright: 3%	drab: 0%	drabbest: 97%

Biodiversity

The change in biodiversity is significantly effecting the biotic factors in the environments. "Tropical cone snails may contain the largest and most clinically important pharmacopoeia of any genus in Nature." This was said by Eric Chivian, the lead author in the study of losing medicine. Without the animals and plants, diseases may arise because the balance they provided is no longer occurring. Many factors are and will continue to be threatened by climate change. Some of these factors are the atmosphere being polluted, Oxygen will not be produced through plants, and the cost to cure the diseases would be incredibly huge. All biotic factors rely on other species to survive and humans rely on many animals and plants to live, so without those, the human race would potentially die out or at least have a harder time surviving. Humans also need abiotic factors such as water and building materials. The water sources that we use are receding or being wiped out completely. No living factor can survive without water and with pollution and all the trash that is being thrown into the oceans, lakes, and rivers, there will be no water left that isn't contaminated. The melting ice caps are disturbing the biomes and natural ecosystems. Without these vital water and ice sources, humans, animals of all kinds, and plants all over the world will be denied the necessary nourishment they are used to. Although this change is slow and has barely been noticed by the average person, it is happening more and more rapidly and can only be stopped when global warming ends. Many species have not even been discovered yet and could potentially cure deadly diseases. We may kill this species before we even know it exists because its habitat will be destroyed by pollution. The human race is the only species that does not provide anything for the environment in return for all it gives us. We are also the only species that has affected the environment in such a significant and negative way. Biodiversity can be helped by not polluting the environment and in turn, the natural balance will be restored. The air, water, and land would be cleaner and clearer. This would be beneficial to all species.



http://www.globalissues.org/article/172/climate-change-affects-biodiversity