Question

Question 1. Formulate a hypothesis whether the preys: Pinto, Navy or Kidney could avoid predation, survive and reproduce most viz-a-viz the feeding apparatus given below. Note that our goal in this simulation experiment is to prove or disprove this hypothesis.

Question 2. Formulate a hypothesis whether the Feeding apparatus: Forceps, Fork, Spatula and Spoon shown in this order below could pick the above shown beans best. In other words, which one is the best feeding apparatus? Note that our goal is to prove or disprove this hypothesis.

Table 9. 1. Starting populations are as follows:

Beans	Number of starting individuals	Percent of prey
Pinto	100	33.3
Navy	100	33.3
Kidney	100	33.3
Total	300	100

Now let us say you are feeding with Forceps and your 3 other lab mates preying and competing with you with their feeding apparatus: Fork, Spatula, or Spoon. You will estimate how many beans might be captured (preyed on) by each one of you, each round (4 rounds) and score them in the tables given.

In Round 1, since you start with 100 beans from table 9.1, you subtract the total number of captured from 100. The number you get represent preys (animals) that survived predation. Then you multiply whatever that number by 2. This is to fake reproduction since animals that survive predation would reproduce. For example, if the total number of Pinto beans captured you calculated is 54 during Round 1, then 100 – 54 = 46. You multiply 46 x 2 = 92. Therefore, your starting population for round 2 for Pinto is 92. Keep the track of this number as you would need it later. You would do this for each of the feeding apparatus.

You will make estimates of how many of the beans would be captured considering the type of the Feeding Apparatus: Forceps, Fork, Spatula, or Spoon viz-a-viz the size and color of the bean: Pinto, Navy or Kidney. You may not be familiar with Spatula and I have given you its estimate for all rounds to help you, but you can change these numbers if you want.

Note that you do this each round. You subtract the total number of captured from the number of beans you started with that round and then multiply it by 2 again to simulate reproduction. For example, if you have calculated the total number of Pinto captured in round 2 to be 50, since you began that round with 92, then 92 – 50 = 42. So, you multiply 42x2 = 84 will be your initial population for round 3. Again, do not forget to keep note of this number. You continue this until you finish all the four rounds of predation for each of the feeding apparatus.

Regarding how to estimate, you can estimate any number consistent with your hypothesis but make sure that you have some numbers of each beans left until the last round. If you run into zeros or negatives at any round because of your overestimates, that would not be right because in nature predators do not kill and eat all of their preys in a season. They want to make sure that some preys continue in life for the continuous supply of food for themselves and their young ones in the forest!

Your goal at the end is to summarize your data for prey by calculating the overall change in the number of each prey phenotype in the population.

Reporting the results of each hunting bout.

10. Evaluate your hypothesis regarding predation success. Which of the predator

phenotype is best adapted for capturing prey? ________________________________________

Do the results of the simulation agree with your expectation? Account for the difference (if present) between your prediction and the data and modify your hypothesis accordingly.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer 1

Hypothesis: If the prey have the characteristic feature in which they can easily prevent from being predated, lives more and forms large population.

In here the number of population survived will be given

	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 3
Pinto (forceps)	160	270	484	908
Navy (fork)	136	200	324	568
Kidney (spoon)	110	120	134	172

They were predated in such numbers

Forceps- 20,25,28,30

Fork- 32,36,38,40

Spoon- 45,50,53,48

In this kidney which was predated by spoon has reduced by the number of population because they were prey which was more susceptible for getting poached or to be eaten.

Rather than sharpness and other useful pointed things available for the forks and forceps and better way by spoon and its ideal way helped them to get preys quickly. So animals with more tactics applied with their hunting helps them to catch preys fastly.

So phenotype character of the predator is to an extent less significant but the way of use is important. After the capturing of preys by the forks and forceps then they won't leave the preys but by spoon chances of slipping down is more. Phenotype characters thus also prove to be important.

Modified : chances for predators to catch their prey increases by having the ideal way like the spoon along with it the phenotypic charctors like size, colour like fork and forceps.