Name: Siah Miller

PT 6.1: Natural Selection

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Learning Targets
(HS-LS4-2) I can construct an explanation based on evidence from the relationship between
genetic variation, advantageous traits, and the evolution of a population.
(HS-LS4-4) I can construct an explanation using evidence showing how the process of natural
selection causes a population to adapt to environmental changes and evolve over time.

Guiding Questions
1. What role do traits play in affecting an organism’s ability to reproduce?
2. If an ecosystem/environment changes, how can a population adapt?

Background Information
In 1831, Charles Darwin’s observations led him to develop
the idea of evolution, which explains how populations
change over time.
Darwin discovered how the adaptations that an organism
had helped it survive and reproduce in its environment.
Animals that were better adapted had a higher chance of
surviving and passing on their traits to their
offspring--this process is called natural selection. From
generation to generation, populations continue to change as they become better adapted, or
as their environment changes.
Natural selection causes a trait to become more or less common in a population over the
course of multiple generations. Not all change over time is the result of natural selection.
Natural selection requires three “ingredients”:

1. Variation: Does the trait vary among individuals in the population?

2. Heritability: Is the trait influenced by genes that pass from parents to offspring?

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 3. Reproductive advantage: Are individuals with a certain trait variation more successful
at reproducing than others?

Task 1 - Background
DIRECTIONS: Read the document: Is it Natural Selection? Then fill out the following for the
charts:
● The name of the organism.
● The trait the organism displays.
● Provide evidence for the variability, heritability, and reproductive advantage of that
organism due to the trait.
● Lastly, is it an example of natural selection? (Only yes if all three “ingredients” are a yes).

Example:
Organism: Stalk-eyed flies Trait: Eye-span

Variability Heritability Reproductive advantage

Yes, individuals have Yes, the eye span/body Yes, males with longer eye spans
different eye spans. length of sons resembles are more likely to get a mate.
that of their fathers.

Is this an example of Natural Selection? Yes

Yes, eye span is natural selection, eye span better adapted the species, making them have more
mates, and better offspring

Experiment#1:
Organism #1: Darwin’s Finch Trait: Beak

Variability Heritability Reproductive advantage

Yes, the shape of the mouth Yes, the way that your mouth Yes, birds with a better beak are
can differ from organism to is shaped can be passed most likely to find a mate based
organism down as a trait from either off of beak capabilities
parent

Is this an example of Natural Selection?

Yes, this is an example of natural selection because the Dawin’s Finches had to adapt to their
new environment, without the evolved beak their chances of survival were very slim until the
most desired beak became more common for off-spring.

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Experiment#2:
Organism #2: Freshwater Snail Trait: Shell

Variability Heritability Reproductive advantage

Yes, the shells of snails can
vary from shapes, sizes, and
even colors
The size of a shell on a snail
usually depends on the type of
snail, heritability doesn’t really
play a role in a snail’s shell
size
A bigger shell on a snail is
preferred so that they have more
survival opportunities against
predators

Is this an example of Natural Selection? Yes, in this experiment the

shell of the snails were natural
selection. The snails born in
environments that are full of
predators usually have bigger
shells to better adapt them to
their surroundings

Experiment#3:
Organism #3: Pingelap People Trait: Colorblindness

Variability Heritability Reproductive advantage

People can have different
eyes, some see more color
than others, some see little
color, some see no color
The way that your eyes
function can be traced back to
your parents because they
give you your DNA code
There is a disadvantage when it
comes to sight of the Pingelap
people, since all of the Pingelap
people have bad eyesight they
become carriers for
colorblindness, they all mate with
one another so eventually it
would take over

Is this an example of Natural Selection? No, this is not an example of

natural selection, a typhoon
struck the island and it
worsened the eyesight of the
Pingelap people, before the
island was struck by the

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 typhoon no one on the island
was colorblind.

Task 2 - Build a Bird

Directions: Read the following.
Take a look at all the birds in your backyard sometime. Chances are you'll see several different
types of birds, each with different beaks, coloration, body shapes and bills. These birds live in
the same basic habitat – the city. So why are they so different?
If all birds ate the exact same food, lived in the exact same place, and tried to raise their young
in the exact same habitat, they would all be competing for the same types of food, water,
shelter, and space.
Fortunately, different birds fill different areas within the habitat. Over time, they've developed
special ways to adapt to their unique place in the environment so that they have a better
chance of surviving. Some of these adaptations or changes are physical, like the shape of the
bill. Some adaptations are behavioral, like singing a special song.
Usually, the physical and behavioral characteristics that get passed along through the
generations are the traits that help the bird survive the best.
One of the cool ways to see how a bird has adapted to its environment is to take a close look at
its bill and feet. Bird beaks and feet come in all shapes and sizes. Each is equipped especially
suited to help that bird find food and raise young. (adapted from Project BEAK)

Directions: Go to this website Build A Bird and “build” your own bird. Make sure to choose:
● Wings ● Feet
● Head ● Habitat

1. Once you click done, screenshot or take a photo of final screen showing “chance of
survival” and upload photo here:

2. Why do you think your bird has been given the % chance of survival? Explain.
My bird got a very low survival rate because it’s beak was made to hunt prey and I wanted
my bird to live in a peaceful flower garden where it always has something pretty to look at

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Task 3 - Bird Beak Simulation and Reflection
Directions: In this simulation, you will take on the role of a Finch. Your beak will be
represented as utensils and you will be competing for food.
1. Write your name next to your assigned number in Table 1 below.
2. Write the names of your teammates.
3. Grab a pair of utensils.
a. each person should have two of the same (ex: 2 spoons, 2 forks, or 2 knives).
4. Write your type of beak (aka utensil) under “Beak type.” Be sure to include your
teammates' types of beaks also.
5. Make sure each person (bird) is equal distance from the bowl of food (dry pasta).
6. Your teacher will start a timer. Once the timer starts, grab as much food as you can.
7. Once the alarm goes off, count the number of food pieces you have in your bowl and
enter it in Table 1. Be sure to include your teammates' number also.

RULES:
● You CAN NOT move the main bowl of food nor your bowl.
● The person (bird) with the most food in their bowl wins (lives and reproduces).
● The person with the least amount of food will die.
● Anybody who died because their beak was not an advantageous trait takes on the traits
of the person whose beak was the best adaptation (you are now the winner’s offspring).
You will use the same utensils as the winner.
● Repeat for a total of 3 generations.

TABLE 1: Pasta Generation 1 Generation 2 Generation 3

Name Beak type # of food eaten: # of food eaten: # of food eaten:

1. Siah Fork 13 9 48 (Spoon)

2. Sariah Spoon 85 72 89

3. Benjamin Knife 3 107 39

4. Nathan Fork 43 33 30

Winner Beak: 85 107 89

TABLE 2: Glass Beads Generation 4 Generation 5 Generation 6

Name Beak type # of food eaten: # of food eaten: # of food eaten:

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 1.

2.

3.

4.

Winner Beak:

Reflection Questions:
1. Explain how traits in any organism can affect the ability of that organism to reproduce
and pass on its genes? (Consider BOTH behavior AND physical traits!)
Traits that organism’s carry have a big outcome on whether they become an effective
and adaptive species, we have seen many species go extinct because they were unable
to adapt to the ever so changing environment

2. If an ecosystem/environment changes, how can a population adapt? Give an example.

Populations can adapt through offspring or simple things that keep them alive,
example, it’s cold outside so you put your jacket on. You haven’t eaten all day, you are
hungry so you eat. It’s hot outside so you take off your sweater. These simple every
day things helps an organism to adapt.

3. Genetic variation is a word that describes how much variety of genes/traits can be
found in a population. At the end of the 6th generation was there more or less genetic
variation in the bird population? Do you think this is good or bad? Explain why.
There was more genetic variation in the sixth generation, it is a good thing because
that means the species is adapting to their environment, the birds adapted to be able
to crack open hard shell seeds.

4. Explain natural selection in YOUR OWN WORDS. (This must be in 2-3 paragraphs to
receive credit for this PT)
The role that heritable genetic traits play in the birds survival and their ability to
reproduce is greater than expected, if it wasn’t for the mix of traits that allowed the
birds to adapt all of the birds would have been the same. If the bird’s beaks were the
same all of the birds on the island would be dead, luckily after the birds began to
reproduce the beaks of the offspring evolved into a better beak for breaking open
seeds. The birds are an example of natural selection, they all had different genes that
better built them for certain environmental changes. Every organism has a set of traits
that differ from one another, even differing from parents. The long beaks were a
heritable trait that prevented that species of birds on the island from going extinct,
the birds had to reproduce many times to get their population back up after the
drought, the new generation of birds were born with advantageous traits that will
better prepare them for harder shelled seeds. Sometimes when the birds reproduce
the offspring had genetic mutations, some had shorter wings, curved beaks, and tiny

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 bodies. Genetic mutations aren’t that bad but they still take up a double digit number
of our human population, around 65% of the general population has a genetic
mutation. The birds had to compete with one another to survive, there wasn’t a lot of
food or water so that sparked competition between the birds, bird survival at that
time was an almost extinction. When species overproduce it creates an imbalance, for
example pigeons, they are the first species of bird that comes to mind when you think
of overproduction, there are over 400 million pigeons in the world. In New York there
is one pigeon to every two people, that is way too much of a species.

MASTERY RUBRIC AND COMPLETION CHECKLIST

Learning Targets
(HS-LS4-2) I can construct an explanation based on evidence of the relationship between genetic
variation, advantageous traits, and the evolution of a population.
(HS-LS4-4) I can construct an explanation using evidence showing how the process of natural
selection causes a population to adapt to environmental changes and evolve over time.

Guiding Questions
What is the role of heritable genetic traits in affecting the birds’ ability to survive
and reproduce?
If the environment changes, what might explain why the birds would survive or go
extinct?

1 Concerns (2) Goal Achieved (3) Exceeded Mastery (4)

(Similar to a C) (Similar to a B or B+) (Similar to an A or A+)

A score of 2 means you 1) Topic and Content

did everything you were My argument has a
knowledgeable and
supposed to but your
answer may have used thoughtful response to the
some vocabulary learning target(s) and guiding
incorrectly or your use question(s).
of evidence was unclear
2) Use of Evidence and
or missing some
Analysis
important details.
My argument is supported by
information from the
provided class resources
and class activities.
❏ Real-world examples or
applications used not from the
class activity.
❏ Supported my argument with
information that was not
provided in class and cited
correctly.
❏ Used all score 4 vocabulary.
You need at least 3 boxes
checked from the above boxes
to have a chance at earning a
grade of 4 if you got a 3 on
everything else.

IMPORTANT! Any information used that is NOT learned from class MUST be cited or
you will have to redo the assignment! You must use YOUR OWN WORDS.
Required Vocabulary: If you do not use ALL of the Score 2 words you will get NO CREDIT.

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 Score 2 Words Score 3 Words Score 4 Words

● Advantageous traits ● Advantageous traits ● Advantageous traits

● Evolution ● Evolution ● Evolution
● Adaptation ● Adaptation ● Adaptation
● Natural selection ● Natural selection ● Natural selection
● Organisms ● Organisms ● Organisms
● Competition ● Competition
● Population ● Population
● Genes ● Genes
● Reproduce ● Reproduce
● Extinct ● Extinct
● Overproduction
● Random Mutations
● Heritable Traits

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+the+world+has+a+gene
tic+mutation&rlz=1CATAVM_enUS1043&oq=what+percentage+of+the+world+has
+a+geneti&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j33i160l3j33i22i29i30l2.24627j1j7&sourceid=chrom
e&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+percentage+of+pigeons+in+the
+world&rlz=1CATAVM_enUS1043&oq=what+is+the+percentage+of+pigeons+&aqs
=chrome.2.69i57j33i160l4j33i299l2j33i22i29i30l2.16260j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=
UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+percentage+of+pigeons+in+new
+york&rlz=1CATAVM_enUS1043&oq=what+is+the+percentage+of+pigeons+in+ne
w&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33i160l5j33i22i29i30l4.21549j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UT
F-8&safe=active&ssui=on

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