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Thitirat Pongprajuc (Nuch)

ANTH 1020-007

January 29, 2017

Natural Selection Lab Report

Introduction

Darwins finches are perfect examples to be used for research and studies that are being

conducted for natural selection. There are a wide variety of different species of finches that can

be found in near proximity of each other. This can be used as an advantage by researchers. They

can study multiple species of finches found on one island instead of having to travel long

distances to collect a sample size that is large enough but also has an amplitude of different types

finches. One of the characteristics that many scientists and researchers focus on for research are

the types of beaks each species of finches has. The different types of beaks on each species of

birds determines the diet and the survival of the species itself. Natural selection usually occurs

when there are environmental changes that effect the habitat and food supply of animals living in

the area. It basically survival of the fittest if the animal cannot adapt to the environmental

changes then it will eventually die. In the finches cases the different beaks are how the birds get

food. Large beaks are used to break open seeds for food. Long slim narrow beaks can be used

help the birds dig in small crevasses for bugs. Depend on the type of habitat you find these birds

in will determine the type of beaks they have. Which then reflect the type diet they eat.

In the research journal, Intense Natural Selection in a Population of Darwin's Finches

(Geospizinae) in the Galpagos, written by Peter T. Boag and Peter R. Grant the authors writes

about the natural selection that occurred on the on Daphane Major Island. During the drought on

the island the birds that had big beaks were the best at surviving the drought. They used their big

beaks to break open seeds for a source of food. The birds that survived are then the ones that able
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to continue to live and reproduce. Birds that didnt have large beaks would not survive the harsh

environment and eventually die out (1981). This is a perfect example of natural selection

happening in nature. The second journal, the calmodulin pathway and evolution of elongated

beak morphology in Darwin's finches, the authors presented the idea that calmodulin pathway is

responsible for a molecule involved in mediating Ca2+ signaling. The levels of Ca2+ in the birds

reflected the low depth and narrower width of the beak (Abzhanov et al. 2006). This finding can

by uses as evidence in order explain how so many different type of finches have so many types

of beaks.

Hypothesis

For my hypothesis, I think the chopsticks would do better than the hair clips. While

examining the hair clip I can clearly see it was not designed to pick up small material. The hair

clips had spread out teeth that looked too wide to be able to grasp the small seeds. The teeth of

the hair clip were made to grab on to things that are large like for example a bundle of hair.

Chopsticks are made to pick up thin and light weight material like noodles. The seed used in this

lab were small and light they were sunflower seeds. This is why I figured the chopstick would

perform best at picking up the seed than the hair clip.

Material and Methods

In the lab, the equipment used to pick up the items were: tongs, hair clips, chopsticks,

tweezers, chip clip and clothes pins. The chip clip was added later in round 2. The material that

was being used to be picked up were sun flower seeds. The way the lab was carried out was like

a game. Students were separated into 5 groups. Each group got one of the equipment that were
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used to pick up the seeds. Each round, students were given 1 minute to pick up as many seeds as

they can. If the group were to run out of seeds before the time limit that group can steal seeds

from an opponent group. There were 5 rounds total and all 5 groups played against each other.

After each round the 3-losing people would have to trade their own equipment to the new

equipment from the 3-winning people.

Results

Begin Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5

Tongs 5 6 6 7 8 9
Hair clips 5 5 5 5 4 3
Chopsticks 5 2 1 0 0 0
Cloth pins 5 5 3 2 2 1
Tweezers 4 6 8 9 10 11
Chip clip 0 0 1 1 0 0
Total 24 24 24 24 24 24

The table shows the result from each round. At the beginning, equipment which are

tongs, hair clips, chopsticks, clothe pins, were given 5 items to each group. Tweezers were given

4 items. The total equipment was 24. There was no chip clip at the beginning. In Round 1,

chopsticks could grasp the sunflower seeds less than other opponents, so chopsticks lost 3

members. Tongs and tweezers could grasp more seed than other groups, so tongs were added 1

member and tweezers were added 2 members. Round 2, chopsticks lost 1 member, and cloth pins

lost 2 members. Tweezers won 3 members, but tweezers were added 2 more members. 1 chip

clip was added to the competition in this round. Round 3, chopsticks lost 1 member. Cloth pins

lost 1 member, and tongs lost 1 member. The winner were 2 members from tongs and 1 member
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from tweezers. Therefore, tongs were added 1 member and tweezers were added 1 member.

Round 4, the losers were 1 hair clip, a1 chip clip, and 1 tweezer. The winners were 1 tong, and 2

tweezers. So, tongs were added 1 member and tweezers were added 1 member. Round 5, hair

clips, cloth pins, and tongs lost 1 member from each group. Tongs won 2 members and tweezers

won 1 member. Therefore, tongs were added 1 member and tweezers were added 1 member.

Result of the experiment from Beginning to Round 5

Result of the Experiment

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Begin Round1 Round2 Round3 Round4 Round5

Tongs Hair clips Chopsticks Cloth pins Tweezers Chip clips

The result of the experiment depicts the number of different equipment or different beak

types changed overtime. The experiment started with the equal amount of 5 of the variation

which tongs, hair clips, chopsticks, cloth pins and tweezers. The frequency of the favorable

variations which were tweezers and tongs increased overtime becoming more common in the

population. Meanwhile, unfavorable variations which were chopsticks, cloth pins, and hair clips

decreased and became less common in the population. Mutation of a chip clip which was an

unfavorable trait occurred in Round 2, but it become extinct in Round4.

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Conclusion

The hypothesis, the chopsticks would do better than the hair clips was rejected because

chopsticks lost all 5 members in Round 3, but the hair clips still had 3 members left when the 5-

round competition was done. The possible error that could impact the result were the finches

(students) that participated. Each student has a different level of competition. So, this plays roles

as an outside factors into the experiment. The skill of students with chopsticks due to the

experience caused the decrease of its population. Also, the skill with hair clips and other tools

helped students to grasp more seeds than chopsticks. The further research needs to be done to

evaluate whether or not chopsticks would do better than hair clips. Moreover, whether or not the

level of competition and background experience would affect the result of the experiment. If this

experiment were replicated by other group of students, the result could be completely different.

The experimenter may have to consider tools, methods, preference, skill, and many other factors.

Because of these factors, I could not guarantee that the result would be the same, if the

experiment were replicated by other researchers. In other words, I cannot verify that my results

are valid due to the outside factors.

Discussion

The scientific method is the basis for observing a situation or action, researching, forming

a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, collecting data drawing conclusion and re-testing the

hypothesis to inquire data more accurately. Other fields that use the scientific method are

medical field, investigation field, food industry and many others. They would have to do the

same process to find out the information that could help them reconfirm the hypothesis that

could lead to the solution of the problems they have. This activity demonstrated me the use of the
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scientific method. The activity was arranged after I studied Darwins finches or Natural

Selection. The study referred to the researching process of the scientific method. Then, the

activity was arranged to demonstrated the procedures of forming and testing a hypothesis. Then,

I collected data by recording the result from each round, and drawing a conclusion that my

hypothesis was not supported. I might use some of the steps in the scientific method to observe

myself in studying because I would like to maintain my academic performance as good as

possible, but overtime I tend to have less motivation to study. So, I would research information

about how to improve and maintain academic performance and how to motivate myself in

studying. Then, I would form a hypothesis whether or not the techniques would work. To test the

hypothesis, I would use the studying techniques and drew a conclusion from the result which is

my grades or studying outcomes.

The theory of evolution by natural selection is that the favorable variations will increase

in frequency in population with variability, inheritance, competition, and differential

reproductive success as underlying assumptions. In other words, unfavorable variations will

decrease in frequency (become less common) in population. Likewise, chopsticks which is an

unfavorable variation become less common in population. On the other hand, tweezers and tongs

are favorable variation; therefore, they increased in frequency because they could find more food

than other types of equipment or beaks. So, they could reproduce and inherit their traits to the

next generation. Furthermore, a natural biological variation or mutation appears in a population.

In the activity, chip clip appeared after the Round 2 was done. If the mutated organism could not

survive in the nature, it will disappear or become extinction like a chip clip that remained zero

member at the end of Round 4. The types of food were also the factors of the result. The finches

will survive in a particular area when their finches fit with the food resources. Tweezers had
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more population than other beak types because the teeth size of tweezers may suit the shape and

size of sunflower seeds. Therefore, organisms who have a certain trait that fits in one area may

not fit in another area where the type of food differs.

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References

Boag, P., & Grant, P. (1981). Intense Natural Selection in a Population of Darwin's Finches

(Geospizinae) in the Galpagos. Science, 214(4516), 82-85. Retrieved from

http://www.jstor.org.libprox1.slcc.edu/stable/1687269

Abzhanov, A., Kuo, W. P., Hartmann, C., Grant, B. R., Grant, P. R., & Tabin, C. J. (2006). The

calmodulin pathway and evolution of elongated beak morphology in Darwin's finches.

Nature, 442(7102), 563-567. doi:10.1038/nature04843