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ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS SIMULATION The Survival Island Experiment

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THE SURVIVAL ISLAND EXPERIMENT You have been recruited to assist the United States Institute of Biological Studies (USIBS) in testing the survival skills of three new species of animals recently found in the Amazon rainforest. DO YOU ACCEPT THIS MISSION?

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YOUR MISSION You are to observe these species in a new, isolate environment. Several of each species will be relocated to Survival Island where no other animal life exist. On the island, you will observe and record each species ability to hunt and collect the one and only available food source, quinoa. You will collect and report your findings on these species to the USIBS only. Lets proceed...

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MEET THE NEW SPECIES FORKULA Although this creature has very sharp, pointy spikes. It may be very clumsy transporting food to its home. These creatures their spikes to make their homes up in the trees.

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MEET THE NEW SPECIES SPOONIK This creature has a mild temperament and can be very thoughtful when it comes to hunting for its food. They use their digging capabilities to make their homes in burrows underground.

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MEET THE NEW SPECIES STICKETTE This friendly creature enjoys being around and working with others of its kind. These slim creatures find their homes in bushes and ground vegetation.

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EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR THIS SIMULATION, Each table will receive: Regions on the Island (tray) Quinoa (beads) Equal Number of Each Species (utensils) Home for Each Species (placement of cups) Data Record Sheets

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EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Each group will conduct a 1-minute hunting trial. During the trial, each species will try to collect as much food as possible without using the sides of the tray and take it to each species home. Remember the species descriptions. At the end of the trial, each species will record how much food they were able to collect. At the end of the trials, we will do a whole class count of each species.

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When timer gets to 00:00, count quinoa and record data.

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DATA COLLECTION

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DATA ANALYSIS Which species will most likely survive the longest and/or produce the most offspring in this environment? What adaptation features made these species so successful? Which species are less likely to survive very long in this environment? What features does this species possess that make it difficult for it to hunt food more successfully?

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Learned Behavioral Adaptations

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Physical Adaptations Develop Over Time When The Traits Are Present in the Population

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What adaptations might Stickette develop in order to be a more successful hunter? PHYSICAL (Structural) BEHAVIOR (Behavioral)

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AFTER AN ADAPTATION Over many generations, Stickette was able to survive and developed a physical adaptation so it could gather food more successfully in its environment. Stickette is now Clipette!!

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When timer gets to 00:00, count quinoa and record data.

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DATA ANALYSIS AFTER THE ADAPTATION

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ADAPTATION SIMULATION ANALYSIS & REFLECTION How does the Stickettes trial(s) compare to the newly adapted Clipettes trial(s)? Did this adaptation enable this species to be more successful at hunting in this given environment? Can you think of a better way the Stickette could have adapted in order to be more successful at hunting? Describe those adaptations and draw an example with labels.