Natural Selection Lab
Natural Selection Lab!
Interactive Online Game Simulation!
Matthew Beja!
September 22!
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Purpose: This experiment was conducted to further understanding about Natural selection. !
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Hypothesis: I think the green bugs that blend into the grass will eventually surpass the blue ones. Since the blue bugs stand out more, they are easier to see. !
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Procedure: A online simulation was conducted. This simulation started with a screen full of blue bugs. The object of this was to click as many bugs as possible in a given amount of time. As the rounds proceeded, the amount of green bugs went up. The bugs who blended into the landscape were more difficult to see which resulted in a decrease in blue bugs. As the simulation was conducted, at the end of each year, the total bug population was recorded. Data was also collected on the amount of different types of bugs which were eaten, and whether reproduction took place. Spontaneously, a message would come up telling the tester that the bird had either gotten a disease, or had been attacked by another animal. This resulted in a doubling of necessary bugs the bird has to eat to survive. !
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Results: After the conclusion of 14 years in the bug simulation, no more blue bugs remained. The bugs who survived were the ones who blended into the landscape. The results were put into a data table, and turned into a line graph. The results are recorded below.! Results
Results
Total Bug
Population
Total Bugs
Eaten
Conditions
Reproducti on 1
18
14
Healthy
no
3
1
19
13
Healthy
yes
6
8
5
20
11
Healthy
yes
18
14
2
0
20
14
Healthy
yes
5
15
12
5
1
20
13
Injured
no
6
4
3
16
11
20
14
Healthy
Yes
7
2
2
18
8
20
10
Healthy
no
8
0
0
20
8
20
8
Diseased
no
9
0
0
20
12
20
12
Interactive Online Game Simulation!
Matthew Beja!
September 22!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Purpose: This experiment was conducted to further understanding about Natural selection. !
!
Hypothesis: I think the green bugs that blend into the grass will eventually surpass the blue ones. Since the blue bugs stand out more, they are easier to see. !
!
Procedure: A online simulation was conducted. This simulation started with a screen full of blue bugs. The object of this was to click as many bugs as possible in a given amount of time. As the rounds proceeded, the amount of green bugs went up. The bugs who blended into the landscape were more difficult to see which resulted in a decrease in blue bugs. As the simulation was conducted, at the end of each year, the total bug population was recorded. Data was also collected on the amount of different types of bugs which were eaten, and whether reproduction took place. Spontaneously, a message would come up telling the tester that the bird had either gotten a disease, or had been attacked by another animal. This resulted in a doubling of necessary bugs the bird has to eat to survive. !
!
Results: After the conclusion of 14 years in the bug simulation, no more blue bugs remained. The bugs who survived were the ones who blended into the landscape. The results were put into a data table, and turned into a line graph. The results are recorded below.! Results
Results
Total Bug
Population
Total Bugs
Eaten
Conditions
Reproducti on 1
18
14
Healthy
no
3
1
19
13
Healthy
yes
6
8
5
20
11
Healthy
yes
18
14
2
0
20
14
Healthy
yes
5
15
12
5
1
20
13
Injured
no
6
4
3
16
11
20
14
Healthy
Yes
7
2
2
18
8
20
10
Healthy
no
8
0
0
20
8
20
8
Diseased
no
9
0
0
20
12
20
12