Natural Selection Online Simulation

You and your partner will each do the lab separately. At the end of today’s lab you will compare
your labs for similarities and differences.

1. Get a laptop and go to http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/evolution_act11_sim.html

2. Read the paragraph about Natural Selection and then click next
3. You will be selecting characteristics for 3 different birds. For the first bird, click on the
color of plumage (feather color) you want your bird to have. Put the information in the
table below to show what you chose. Then continue by selecting body size and beak size.
Make sure you enter the information into the table below. Pay attention to the table on the
right that gives information about the environment when making your birds. ALL 3
BIRDS MUST BE DIFFERENT.
Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3
Plumage
Body size
Beak size

4. Once all 3 birds are chosen, click the next button and read about the environment the
birds will be in. How many years are represented in the simulation? ________________
5. Click continue. Read the paragraph and answer the question.
“Of those that you selected, how fit do you think each phenotype is in the current
environment”?
Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3
How fit is the bird
(1-10). Why did you
come up with this
number?

6. Once you enter this information click to continue the simulation. Read the information
and get familiar with the graphic. You will need to understand what the graphic is
presenting to you so don’t screw around with this. Then click close.
7. Before clicking start, how many birds are available in the environment for each of the 3
types of birds? After entering this number click Start.
Number of years Population Bird #1 Population Bird #2 Population Bird #3
Year 0 (start)
8. The simulation will run for around 50,000 years. Enter the number of years along the side
and the population numbers now present in the graph above under their corresponding
bird. IF A MUTATION OCCURRED, WRITE MUTATION IN THE BOX NEXT TO
THE NUMBER AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE MUTATION WAS.
9. Click resume. The simulation will run again. Enter the information again in the graph
above. If a mutation or a predator arrives, put that information in the graph as well.
10. Click resume. Continue entering the information until you get through the 500,000 years.
11. What was the beginning and ending population of birds for each species?
Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3
Beginning Population

Ending Population
12. Were your ideas about fitness (#5) of each bird correct? Why or why not. Be thorough!

13. Compare how your bird populations changed with another group of students or your
partner. Record similarities and differences
Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3
Similarities

Differences

14. Click continue. Read what happened to the environment. Once you understand what has
happened, click on continue again. Although the simulation says to work with a partner
you will each do this by yourself again.
15. Select the types of food you want available in your environment and record them below.
You MUST select a predator type and foliage color. Enter that in as well.
Seeds Insects Nectar Predators Foliage color
16. Click continue. The simulator will add the other 2 environments and place your birds on
the left hand side. Which birds are most fit for these environments and which are least
fit? Record your ideas then click continue.
Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3
Southeast
environment

Northwest
environment

Northeast
environment

17. All 3 birds will be placed in each environment. Record the starting number birds and their
color in each box. Click the start button. Continue running through the simulation. As
you do so you will notice that mutations change the color and types of birds. Once it
reaches the end you will be shown a comparison page. Record the ending number and
color in the graph below.

Bird #1 Bird #2 Bird #3

Southeast Color: Color: Color:
environment Number: Number: Number:

Ending Color: Ending Color: Ending Color:

Number: Number: Number:
Northwest Color: Color: Color:
environment Number: Number: Number:

Ending Color: Ending Color: Ending Color:

Number: Number: Number:
Northeast Color: Color: Color:
environment Number: Number: Number:

Ending Color: Ending Color: Ending Color:

Number: Number: Number:
18. What do these differences in numbers mean i.e. interpret your findings!