Modeling+Coevolution

Modeling Coevolution

Problem: How do flowering plants and their

Materials: long forceps, spoon, dried peas, 3 25- mL graduated cylinders, 3 100-mL beakers, watch or clock with second hand

Procedure:
 * 1) Work in groups of 3. Each group member represents a different bird species. To represent the birds’ beaks, one group member will use forceps, the second group member will use a spoon and the third will use two fingertips.
 * 2) On a separate sheet of paper, make a copy of the data table shown. The beakers represent short, open flowers and the graduated cylinders represent long, narrow flowers. The dried peas represent the flowers’ nectar, which is the birds’ food. Fill the beakers and the graduated cylinders halfway with dried peas.
 * 3) For 1 minute, use the method you chose in step 1 to remove the peas. Remove them one at a time from your beaker. Do not move or tip the beaker as you do this.
 * 4) Record the number of peas you removed in your data table.
 * 5) To produce seeds, a flower must be pollinated by a member of its own species. Assume that 1 flower was pollinated for every 5 peas removed. Record the number of pollinations for each bird.
 * 6) Repeat steps 3 to 5, using the graduated cylinders instead of the beakers.
 * 7) Exchange data with your classmates and record the class averages for each bird species in your data table

Analyze and Conclude
 * 1) Which bird species obtained the most nectar from the beakers? From the graduated cylinders?
 * 2) From which type of flower was each bird most successful in obtaining food?
 * 3) What is the benefit to a bird of a long, narrow beak?
 * 4) What is the benefit to a plant of short, open flowers?
 * 5) Which type of bird is the best pollinator for long, narrow flowers?
 * 6) How does this model represent coevolution? How could you improve this model?

Data table
 * || Individual data || Individual data || Class average || Class average ||
 * Beak type ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Forceps ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Spoon ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Fingers ||  ||   ||   ||   ||