Peppered Moth Simulation

Learning Target

• Describe how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Success Criteria

• Simulate how predators locate prey in different environments.

• Explain how natural selection causes populations to change.

Questions to Ponder...

• How do some organisms react to changes in their environment?

• How might a change in an environment have an impact on offspring?

Part 1 - Fingers

Materials

• 1 sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" white paper

• 1 sheet of 8 1/2" x 11"  newspaper

• stopwatch

• appox. 15 newspaper circles and 15 white circles (made with hole punch)

Procedures

1. Read all procedures and copy the data table below.

2. Place a sheet of white paper on the table and have one person spread all of the circles (white and newspaper) over the surface while the other person isn't looking.  The person not looking is the "predator."

3. The "predator" (eyes open now) will then use their fingers to pick up as many of the circles as they can in 15 seconds. Count how many of each circle you collected. Use the data table to record how many of each type of paper circle the people in your group collect.

4. Repeat this trial on the same white paper background for everyone in the group and then do the same thing using the newspaper background. Record all information on your data table.

5. Average the trials.

Back to Teams...

• How would you explain the results of the experiment?

• Were the results what you expected?

• We are going to do the same experiment again but with tweezers instead of fingers.  Do you expect the data to be any different?

Part 2 - Tweezers

Materials

• 1 sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" white paper

• 1 sheet of 8 1/2" x 11"  newspaper

• tweezers

• stopwatch

• appox. 15 newspaper circles and 15 white circles (made with hole punch)

Procedures

1. Read all procedures and copy the data table below.

2. Place a sheet of white paper on the table and have one person spread all of the circles (white and newspaper) over the surface while the other person isn't looking.  The person not looking is the "predator."

3. Place a container at least 1 meter away from the paper to collect all of the circles.  This is the nest.

4. The "predator" (eyes open now) will then use tweezers to pick up as many of the circles as they can and return them to the nest in 15 seconds. 

5. Count how many of each circle you collected. Use the data table to record how many of each type of paper circle the people in your group collect.

6. Repeat this trial on the same white paper background for everyone in the group and then do the same thing using the newspaper background. Record all information on your data table.

7. Average the trials.

Back to Teams...

• How do these results compare to the first experiment?

• Were the results what you expected?

• If you were going to do another experiment how would you change it?

Back to Teams...

• How do you explain the change in coloration of the peppered moth population?

• How might you use the Peppered Moth lab to explain the change?