Part 1: Data Collection

Predator-Prey Lab

Question: Which distribution is best for prey survival?

Hypothesis: Choose which distribution you think is best for prey survival. Create your hypothesis before you continue. Write it down (as a complete sentence) and show to Mr. Bambrick before continuing.

My hypothesis is that the distribution will be the bet for prey survival because ______.

Materials and Methods:

Each group will need 50 beans.

One student is blindfolded while the other team members arrange 50 beans on the table in one of the three distribution patterns. Each student will take turns assuming one role:

  • Predator: The blindfolded student moves a hand over the board, just above it, lightly tapping the board continuously with one finger only. The aim is to locate, by touch, as many beans as possible in one minute. The predator cannot know the distribution type!
  • Predator’s assistant: As soon as the predator has touched a bean, it is caught and removed from the table by the predator’s assistant.
  • Timekeeper: This student calls out “start” and “stop” to the predator, allowing one minute to catch prey and will record the data.

You will do 2 trials with each distribution type, and average the numbers of prey captured in each distribution.

On a separate piece of paper, you will each write an abbreviated laboratory report with the format on the back of this page.

Table 1: Prey captured based on population distribution type.

Clumped / Random / Uniform
Trial 1
Trial 2
Average

Either recreate this table in your lab report, or cut out and paste in the results section.

Not properly following directions will lead to a point deduction for the group.

Lab report format:

Abstract (1 paragraph, 5-10 sentences)

This should discuss the different distribution patterns along with short descriptions of each. Be sure to list the types and describe each. You may also include examples of organisms that follow each distribution pattern.You must also include a short description of what you did in this lab.

Introduction (3 paragraphs, each 3-5 sentences)

The first paragraph should discuss populations, communities, and predator-prey relationships. The second paragraph should discuss what the purpose of the lab activity was and what each different setup represented. The final paragraph should state your hypothesis (must match what you wrote on the front) and why you thought that it would be the best.

Materials and Methods (1 paragraph, no bullets. 8-10 sentences)

Discuss what you used (beans and blindfold) and what you did. State what job each “role” had, and how you collected the beans.

Results (1-2 paragraphs, around 8 sentences)

State what happened. Include your data table and draw a bargraph using the averages (make sure to label your axes and give the graph a title). Explain what the data shows and what the graph represents.

Discussion (2-4 paragraphs, 12-15 sentences)

State again what happened in your experiment. State whether the results support your hypothesis and why/why not. State whether your experiment agrees with other group’s (ask them what their results were). State what this means for predator-prey relationships.

Works Cited (in MLA format, not just links to websites. Use EasyBib if necessary.)

YOU MUST CITE ANY SOURCES FROM WHICH YOU TAKE ANY INFORMATION, INCLUDING YOUR TEXTBOOK!

For Website: Remember to usen.p.if no publisher name is available andn.d.if no publishing date is given.

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available).Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access.

For book:

Author Last Name, Author First Name.Book Title. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Medium (which in this case will be Book).

Requirements:

3-4 legible handwritten pages in length, or 3 double-spaced typed pages, including the table and graph.

Well-written, appropriate for high schoolers. Grammar and punctuation count! The paragraphs must be paragraphs, not just disconnected sentences. PROOFREAD!

Label the sections. (Write “Abstract” centered above the abstract, and do the same for each other section.)

Include all of the information listed above.

This paper is worth 30 points.