Guppy Simulation

1. Guppies are colorful to attract other mates.

2. Common name- guppy or millions fish. Scientific name- Poecilia reticulate. Sex- male. Size- 1.4" (~3.5cm). Origin: Venezuela.

3. Predator. Common name- blue acara. Scientific name- Aequidens pulcher. Size- up to 7" (~18cm). Distribution- Trinidad and Latin America.

4. Conditions that would affect the predator's population in a dam (our location) would be the restricted mobility. This is a haven for guppy populations.

5. John Endler was an evolutionary biologist. He studied wild guppies in Trinidad.

6. Coloration description:

Pool 1: Brightly multi-colored with large spots.

Pool 2: Medium coloration on body and tail, with medium-size spots.

Pool 3: Drab coloration, very small spots concentrated near tail.

7. If we do different simulations, then the one with the dam will have the greatest amount of coloration because the predators lose mobility, making it easier for the guppy population to survive.

	% of Brightest Guppies (10 generations)	% of Bright Guppies (10 generations)	% of Drab Guppies (10 generations)	% of Drabbest Guppies (10 generations)
Trial 1 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus	10	82	4	5
Trial 2 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara	14	69	16	0
Trial 3 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	9	4	12	75
Trial 4 Guppy: Mostly Bright Predators: 30 Rivulus	78	22	0	0
Trial 5 Guppy: Mostly Drab Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	0	3	6	92

8. Predators can easily influence guppy coloration. For example, if the predator prefers blue guppies, the predator can move in and kill off that color of guppy.

9. The hypothesis was supported because the table shows that there was variation with most trials, some guppies dominating above others at times.

10. It means that these male guppies live closely between the female guppies and the predators surrounding them.

11. The guppies in the three areas of the stream would have different coloration depending on the type of predator around them.

12. If drab guppies were placed in a stream with very few predators, then they will have a shot at surviving longer, but not that much longer. They were very defenseless and 'drabbest' usually had died out first.

13. If brighter guppies were placed in a stream with many predators, they would die out quickly, but not as fast as mentioned in question 12.

Biodiversity

Questions:

1. What are ways in which preserving biodiversity locally might have a global effect?

Preserving one thing in a local area can have a widespread effect. It is always important to preserve all we can to avoid collapses, that lead up to our demise.

2. How do habitat destruction and loss of species affect more than just one area?

Habitat destruction easily spreads to other areas and affects them. In one of the articles provided, it mentioned that this cause is preventing scientists from discovering new drugs and medicines. This greatly hinders them in their studies.

3. How does preserving biodiversity enhance the life of people?

The species that are not forced into extinction and remain alive can benefit humans in many ways. Preserving biodiversity is thereby an important task for humans.

Data from:

Harvard Medical School. "New Medicines At Risk From Biodiversity Loss." ScienceDaily 17 October 2003. 6 October 2010 .

Shah, Anup. "Loss of biodiversity and extinctions." Global issues. Global issues, 04 Oct 2010. Web. 6 Oct 2010. .

"Activities- Xpeditions @ National geographic." National geographic. National geographic, 04 Oct 2010. Web. 6 Oct 2010. .