In this lab, we were simulating population growth. Our group chose the arctic tundra (represented by a white piece of paper). We were given four different colored pieces of paper, which represented the different colored bunnies. We creatively named them, white bunny, yellow-green bunny, green bunny, and teal bunny. The wolves were different sizes according to the size of their paper.
So here's how it worked. We started off with four bunnies, one for every variation of bunny and one lone wolf. That wolf was then tossed onto the arctic tundra paper to hunt for its prey. If it landed on a bunny, that meant the bunny was dead. If the wolf caught three or more bunnies in one hunt, then it lived and reproduced. If it didn't catch three or more, then it starved to death and a new wolf was introduced. The remaining bunnies doubled at the start of the new round.
Round #
|
White
|
Yellow-Green
|
Teal
|
Green
|
Wolf
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
12
|
6
|
10
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
20
|
12
|
10
|
0
|
4
|
7
|
20
|
14
|
16
|
0
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
10
|
0
|
16
|
9
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
12
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
13
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
14
|
2
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
15
|
2
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
16
|
0
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
17
|
0
|
30
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
18
|
0
|
46
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
19
|
0
|
50
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
20
|
0
|
22
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
21
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
22
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
23
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
24
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
The empty rows in between some of the rounds signifies the new start after a mass extinction.
Graph Title: Number of Animals v. Generation
x-axis: generation
y-axis: population
This graph has all four bunnies and the wolf populations relative to the generation number.
In a realistic environment where wolves didn't randomly fling themselves at their prey, the white bunnies would survive longer because their fur has adapted to their snowy surroundings and provide camouflage. The variation of wolf sizes helped determine who would get more prey and reproduce and survive to the next level. The bigger the wolf, the more bunnies it caught.
That's all folks.
Until next time.
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