Lab Report: Effect of Food Type on Bird Beak Adaptation

Categories: Biology

Report, Pages 4 (819 words)

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Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the impact of food availability on the frequency of different bird beak types. We hypothesized that changes in available food types would lead to corresponding changes in the frequency of bird beak types. To test this, we conducted experiments with three bird flocks and different food environments. Our results show that birds with beaks adapted to the available food sources were more successful in each environment.

Introduction

Bird beak adaptations play a crucial role in a bird species' survival and reproductive success.

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In this experiment, we aimed to investigate how changes in food availability affect the frequency of different bird beak types. By conducting experiments with various bird flocks and food environments, we sought to gain insights into the concept of natural selection and adaptation among bird populations.

Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment is to determine which birds with which beaks survive best in their environment depending on the type of food available.

Question:

What is the effect of the type of food available on the frequency of different types of bird beaks?

Hypothesis:

If the food type changes in the environment, then the amount of each type of bird beaks will change because birds with beaks more suited to the available food will be more successful over time.

Variables:

The independent variable of the lab is the type of food that is available to the birds.

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The dependent variable of the lab is the frequency of each type, size, and shape of beaks.

Literature Review

Prior research has shown that bird beaks have evolved to be specialized for particular types of food sources.

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For example, finch species in the Galápagos Islands developed different beak shapes to exploit various food niches available on different islands. This classic example illustrates how environmental factors, including food availability, can drive the evolution of beak morphology in birds.

Additionally, studies have shown that bird populations can adapt to changing food sources over time. When food types are altered due to environmental shifts, bird species with beak traits better suited to the new food sources have a higher likelihood of survival and reproduction.

Materials:

100 sunflower seeds
100 raisins
100 grains of rice
2 forks
2 spoons
2 knives
Plastic cup

Procedure:

Gather around the edge of the tablecloth, mixing the three groups of food fairly evenly.
Pick up food pieces only with your tool, using the pair of utensils in one hand, simulating the action of a beak.
Pick up one piece of food at a time and put it in your cup ("stomach") before picking another piece of food.
Keep your body off the tablecloth and pick up food only within your reach.
Start only when the teacher says "Go" and finish when all food has been "eaten."

Data—Environment with Equal Amounts of Insects, Seeds, and Fruit:

Flock	Insects Eaten	Seeds Eaten	Fruit Eaten	Total	Percentage	Simulated Number of Birds in 3rd Generation
X	35	34	78	147	49%	15
Y	32	46	15	93	31%	9
Z	33	20	7	60	20%	6

Data—Changed Environment with Equal Amounts of Insects and Seeds but No Fruit:

Flock	Insects Eaten	Seeds Eaten	Total	Percentage	Simulated Number of Birds in 2nd Generation
X	30	27	57	19%	6
Y	60	93	153	51%	15
Z	60	30	90	30%	9

Analysis and Discussion

Based on the data in the first table, Flock X consumes mostly fruit. When fruit was taken away, there was a decrease in the number of birds that Flock X contained. Flock Y consumes mostly seeds. There was no effect on Flock Y when fruit was removed. Due to the fact that Flock Z eats mostly insects, the flock was not affected by the removal of fruit.

Based on the data in the first table, Flock X consumes mostly fruit. When fruit was taken away, there was a decrease in the number of birds in Flock X. Flock Y consumes mostly seeds, and there was no significant effect on Flock Y when fruit was removed. Flock Z primarily eats insects, and the removal of fruit had little impact on this flock.

This experiment demonstrates how favorable traits are crucial in the process of natural selection. Birds with beaks adapted to the available food sources were more successful in each environment. It also emphasizes the concept that species adapt to their environments over time to ensure survival and reproduction.

Conclusion

In this lab I learned about how favorable traits are important when nature selects what organism will survive and pass down its genes for the next generation to inherit, I also learned that most species learn to adapt to their environments so that they can have a favorable trait to be able to survive in their environment. I was able to observe that in the wilderness you need that favorable trait so that you are able to reproduce and pass down your genotypes for the next generation of you species to inherit. I gained useful skills such as how to determine the next generation’s population by analyzing results from experiments I conducted relating to the bird populations.

Lab Report: Effect of Food Type on Bird Beak Adaptation. (2016, Mar 22). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/natural-selection-for-the-birds-lab-report