Bird Beaks Lab

1. Bird Beaks Lab Which bird will survive? SWBT: I can write an explanation based on evidence(lab) that shows how beak shape (trait) can affect the fitness (survival) of a bird.

2. Galapagos Islands Darwin was amazed by the variation of characteristics for the plants and animals he encountered on his journey. In any habitat, food is limited and the types of foods available may vary. Animals with variations that allow them to take advantage of available foods will be more likely to survive. We call beneficial inherited variations adaptations.. Those with the most helpful adaptations will be the most likely to live long enough to pass on their genes to the next generation. This process ensures that beneficial adaptations will continue in future generations, while disadvantageous characteristics will not.

3. Instructions • Take out your notebook and a pencil. • Clear off your desk. • Follow directions on the following slides to create your lab report.

4. Problem? How did the finches on the Galapagos Islands all end up with different shaped beaks?

5. Hypothesis FINISH THE STATEMENT BELOW. If the finches on each island all have different beak shapes, then they got that way because… “Finches on the Galapagos Islands have different shaped beaks because _______” Skip a few lines to add your data table!

6. Hypothesis Chat… What do you think will happen in each trial? Which beak will be successful? Use what you know about natural selection and survival of the fittest to create your prediction.

7. “Beaks” Clothes Pins Binder Clip Spoon Skewer Sticks Paper Plate Cups Marbles/Rocks (Bird Food) Science Journal/Pencil Materials

8. Create the data table below in your notebook. Record if food was “eaten” using each beak for trials 1-4.

9. Procedure • Select your beak type. • Place plate in center of table. • Use the beak to “eat” as much food on your plate as you can in 30 seconds. • Place the “food” you eat in your cup. • After time, count how much each bird ate. • Record numbers in data table. • Repeat for trials 2-4. • Record the % of times you were able to “eat” & write it next to your “beak”.

10. Conclusions • The ____ beak is the best adaptation for this experiment. • My evidence is: (write the % noted from your data table for the best beak). • An adaptation is aninherited characteristic that increases an organism’s chance of survival. • My evidence supports my claim that the ______ beak is the best adaptation because _________________________________.

11. Conclusions • Which beak was least adapted to each item? • Which type of adaptation example was observed in this lab? Behavioral, Physiological, or Structural?

12. STOP HERE!!

13. ResultsCreate a bar graph showing your results for the trial when you ate the most food. Y Amount Eaten X Chopsticks Spoon Clothes Pin Tooth Pick

14. ResultsCreate a bar graph with FOUR columns showing results for each trial. Y Marbles Popcorn Rubber bands Toothpicks Amount of Food Eaten X Chopsticks Spoon Small Binder Binder Clip Clip Beak Shape

15. ResultsCreate a bar graph with FOUR columns showing results for each trial. Y Marbles Popcorn Rubber bands Toothpicks Amount of Food Eaten X Chopsticks Spoon Small Binder Binder Clip Clip Beak Shape