Instructor: Dr. Gingerich
PCB 4674: Evolutionary Biology
August 26, 2016 In 1957 C. P. Haskin transferred 200 guppies from the Caroni drainage to the Oropuche drainage with the intent of studying the morphological variation of guppies. However, the guppies’ behavior within their environment was not within the scope of his studies. In 1992, A.E. Magurran, B.H. Seghers, G.R. Carvalho and P.W. Shaw built on Haskin work by investigating “…whether the anti-predator behavior of wild guppies has been modified by a change in selection regime” (Magurran et al., 1992) by publishing Behavioral consequences of an artificial introduction of guppies (Poecilia reticulate) in N. Trinidad: evidence for the evolution of anti- predator behavior in the wild.
The authors selected seven guppy populations to perform their experiment. These
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The first configuration contained two 1L bottles inside of a tank. The bottles were placed on opposite sides of the tank. One of the bottles only contained water, while the other contained a school of six inter-population hybrid guppies. The second configuration only contained the bottle that houses the school of guppies. This bottle was placed on one side of the tank, and a predator model was placed in the center of the tank. In both configurations, one guppy from one of the seven aforementioned populations was placed into the tank and its behavior was observed.
Two guppy behaviors were observed during the experiment: schooling behavior and inspection behavior. Schooling behavior is defined as the test guppy’s tendency to stay within five body lengths of the “school”. Inspection behavior occurs when the test guppy approaches and becomes visually-fixated on the predator model (Magurran et al., 1992). During this occurrence, the authors recorded if the guppy approached the predator model from the school side. The authors also recorded how closely the test guppy approached the predator
Since the Chincoteague ponies have lived on Assateague Island, Virginia since the early 1600s, they have become well adapted to the harsh environment there. The temperatures are extreme in summer and winter.
The purpose of the research was to formulate a question and develop a hypothesis based on the variations observed between two populations of threespine stickleback, in order to gain a better understanding of natural selection
The purpose of this experiment is to test the hypothesis that small bird’s physical characteristics can greatly impact their species population growth over time. Using the Finch as a test subject for multiple trial runs on a simulated computer system we can alter the characteristics of the finch and run diagnostics for two completely different locations and set of experiments. This simultaneous testing and comparison will either prove or disprove the hypothesis that small bird’s physical characteristics can greatly impact their population growth. The base line for this comparison will be two islands
Being loose-school natured fish, the Guppies need to be on the go constantly with good tank breeding potential even as they eat their young, they still manage to reproduce easily enough in community living.
One hypothesis proposes that the reason Steller sea lions have been declining is because of low prey abundance. Animals should use their energy efficiently when they forage to maximize the net amount of energy gained in relation to the amount time and energy that is spent, but it is believed that the reason Steller sea lions are disappearing in such big numbers is because when prey abundance is lower, that Stellar sea lions are less efficient predators (Charnov, 1976). In a recent study conducted on the effect of prey abundance on foraging efficiency, it was found that the less prey that Stellar sea lions had available, the less efficient they were in foraging (Goundie et al., 2015). In the experiment, the researchers took 4 adult Stellar sea lions and had them dive up and down a tube while recording their oxygen consumption, and dive duration. The sea lions dove between the surface of the water and depths of 10 m, and 40 m, and the reason for this was to simulate diving depths of Steller sea lions in the wild (Merrick and Loughlin, 1997). While the sea lions were diving, researchers fed them pieces of fish through two different tubes that were placed away from each other in order to simulate real foraging movements and prey densities. The researchers fed the seals 12 pieces of fish in the
Here we show that the lower the concentration of cortisol in the water, the bolder the fishes observed are, with a slight negative correlation between cortisol concentration and time spent in cover. In addition the results show the opposite is true – that the higher the cortisol level, the shyer the fish observed. In three-spined stickleback fish, being bolder and more aggressive than a competing male has the benefits of obtaining the best territory and the best mates. However the shyer, less aggressive sticklebacks have the advantage of taking fewer risks and therefore are more likely to survive predation. These two behaviours are both successful and therefore remain in the population, explaining the variation of cortisol levels observed.
To achieve the full effect of managing for wildlife and timber, and individual must be very knowledgeable of both things. You must know how each species of wildlife is affected when harvesting timber in an area (Halterman, 1973). Wild turkeys have been known to use pine plantations that have been burned in the past 6 years, more than any forest type when nesting. These plantations are anywhere from 13 to 18 years old, with each of them being thinned at least one time (Smith, 1990). Studies in east-central Mississippi show that wild turkeys have almost doubled the home range area during the winter when compared to summer . Studies show that wild turkeys use pine plantations less during the winter and prefer
Florida is a very beautiful state with very beautiful sights and animals. Unfortunately, some of these animals that people love to look at aren’t even supposed to live in Florida. In this paper, we will learn about how Florida has creatures in their land and sea that shouldn’t be there because they were “dropped off” or “set free” from people who owned them just for how the animal looks. One of the animals we will learn about will be the green iguana who was liked and bought just for his color and his bold look.
Randall L. Eaton proposes that naturalistic aquariums are a better option than the aquariums we have around today. He first specifies his reasoning for finding regular aquariums to be insufficient living for orcas and dolphins and then gives the alternative choice of naturalistic aquariums. Eaton speaks about how orcas are adapted to move through vast stretches of water on a regular basis. Orcas are social creatures, as social as
An Orca living in a tank causes stress for the mammals,making them feel frustrated. When an Orca is stressed it causes
Species within food webs are interconnected in many complex ways that may not be visible to those who are not actively studying these relationships. As a result, modifying one level of the food web can cause unintended consequences when the entire food web is into taken account. Hoping to protect their crops, the ranchers were justified in their actions: their motive to remove prairie dogs from the area was driven by their need to yield a greater amount of crops, not by a malice to eradicate a species.
The lecture gave in a wildlife animal class is taking about some endangered species. The professor directs students to a discussion by letting them to look at the dwindling populations of migrating shorebirds and more about what scientists are doing to help them. They have a look at the Delaware Bay is one of the most important places many shore birds have stopped and lived here. The shore bird comes and leaves every spring and fall. In late May and early June, they gather on almost every beach along the Delaware Bay. Having so many birds assembled in one place cause a seeming that their numbers are fine, but actually it is a sort of deceiving. The professor considers a particular bird has received a lot of attention. That is a species of red
This research will evaluate possible behavioral distinctions of manatees to oncoming water vessels with individual variation, such as manatees raised in captivity opposed to wild, multiple boat scars versus no noticeable boat scars, and age class variation. Geographical comparison of multiple species of manatees will determine behavioral disparity in areas with high watercraft mortality and areas where the threat is less predominant. An array of behaviors will be analyzed including communication, predator response, and feeding. This research will strongly build upon previous research, and has robust conservation implications for capture and release, as well as rehabilitation programs for this endangered marine mammal. The Environmental Science and Policy doctorate program at George Mason University will grant me the expertise needed to excel in this field of
The Black Tailed Prairie Dog is common to the Great Plains, all the way from Canada to the northern parts of Mexico. The loss of prairie throughout the years has led to a loss in numbers, but they still are around in the Great Plains. The prairie dog lives in areas with short grassland, and they burrow into holes. They dig the holes themselves and leave a big pile of dirt that surrounds their hole. The pile of dirt protects the hole from flooding, and helps them keep a lookout for predators. Their holes range from three to ten feet deep, and about ten feet wide depending on the prairie dog. They make nesting chambers throughout their dens and have a separate spot for the bathroom (Nature Works 1). Prairie dogs have a great burrow system with
The Galapagos Islands consists of thirteen major islands and over a hundred smaller islands located along the Ecuadorian coast. The islands are home to a variety of unique species such as sea lions, sharks, rays, and 26 different species of native birds. Thirteen of these birds are Darwin’s finches. These finches are known to be the “world’s fastest-evolving vertebrates” due to their bodies quickly adapting to the rapidly changing environment (Robertson, N.D. , para.1). Their DNA chemical makeup causes these adaptations to occur. The finch’s most noticeable feature is their evolutionary adaptations, due to the briskly changing environments.