I demonstrated that I can collect and analyze evidence when I was able to collect numerical data from both the natural selection and feeding frenzy labs. In the natural selection lab, each partner was required to act as a predator to capture the prey (red and black licorice pieces) in varying colour environments (white, red, and black). We were each given 40 seconds to capture the prey and record the number of each colour of prey that survived each trial of predation. Based on our results, we found that there was a higher rate of survival with prey that was the same colour as a colour environment. In the feeding frenzy Lab, my group were given various feeding adaptations (broken fork, broken chopsticks, broken fork, knife, fork, spoon, and spoon without a handle). We then began a competition to see who could fill their stomach (plastic cup) the fastest in varying feeding areas (sugar, spaghetti, puffy wheat, and rice). This experiment resulted in finding the feeding adaptation of a spoon to give an advantage as this person filled their “stomach” the fastest in all the environments.

I demonstrated that I can connect evidence I collected to big ideas when I was able to answer the follow-up lab questions and give descriptive reasoning for each. In the natural selection lab, the prey that had the highest survival rate was the one that had a nearly identical colour to that of the background environment. Clearly, this relates to the adaptation part of natural selection as the prey who survived had an advantageous trait. The idea of genetic variation was also represented in this lab as the prey had different appearances (lines on licorice) and came in varying sizes. As for the feeding frenzy lab, I found that some people in my group were given more advantageous feeding adaptations over others. This was measured in each person having the ability to partially or completely fill their cup. This relates to the survival of the fittest concept in natural selection as organisms with an advantageous adaptation are more likely to be able to survive and reproduce over those who do not. This experiment also showed the idea of the struggle for survival as people with less advantageous adaptations used their traits to “fight” others with more advantageous adaptations to gain greater access to the feeding area. These are some of the examples of how the evidence that was collected in this lab connects to the big ideas of the evolution unit.

I demonstrated that I can make predictions based on evidence when I had to respond to questions regarding how the adaptations seen in a population of organisms may change over successive generations. In the natural selection lab, my group found that as there was an increased survival rate amongst a certain colour of prey. This advantageous adaptation would be more widespread into following generations. I could predict that there would be an overproduction of offspring with prey with the advantageous adaptation. This lead me to infer that this would cause an increased struggle for survival amongst prey populations as they would have to compete over limited resources within the environment. I could also predict that predators would also have to survive in order to survive within the varying environments. This could come in the form of improving their other senses in order to find prey blending in with its environment. In the feeding frenzy lab, I could predict that that organisms with an advantageous feeding adaption were able to pass on their genes to the next generation until most of the population of the feeding area will eventually have this trait. This is because I found that these adaptations affect heritability. I could also predict through observation, that organisms who have a less advantageous adaption would have to migrate to other more favourable feeding areas in order to survive and pass on their traits. The examples provided show how I can make predictions based on the evidence that was collected in both experiments.

I demonstrated that I can draw reasoned conclusions when I provided real life examples of how these adaptations relate to nature. Using such examples, can connect the labs data to how a population of organisms actually survive with certain adaptations. In the natural selection lab, I used an example of the rock pocket mice to conclude that varying colour adaptations to certain colour environments can help this particular organism evade predation. In a lighter coloured environment, rock pocket mice with a lighter coloured coat had a higher survival rate compared to mice with a darker coloured coat. In darker coloured environments, mice with a darker coloured coat survived over those with a lighter coloured coat. Similar to this, the evidence collected in the natural selection lab demonstrated this pattern. In the feeding frenzy lab, I concluded that organisms with advantageous feeding adaptations may migrate to provide geographical isolation in order to survive in a certain environment. I could relate this to the finches naturalist Charles Darwin studied in the Galapagos Islands. These finches migrated to different areas in regions where their adaptations would be advantageous to them. Eventually, new species were created from this movement even though each species came from a common ancestor. This is related to the lab as there were people who could not collect anything in a certain feeding environment. However, these same people were able to collect more in other feeding environments with the same adaptation throughout. The examples I have given from nature show how the data from the lab was accurate and that my conclusions have strong reasoning behind them.