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.
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?
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?
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?
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)
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.
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.
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”?
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?
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?
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?
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% |
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