The Insect Predation Game: Evolving Prey Defenses and Predator Responses
In this activity, learn about predator-prey interactions by pretending to be generalist insect predators foraging for three prey species (candy). Three feeding adaptations are used (mandibles, raptorial forelegs, and unmodified legs). Students conduct several simulations, each of which lasts about a minute. After each simulation, prey reproduce and predator numbers are adjusted to reflect mortality and reproduction. One prey type becomes poisonous, and the predator-prey dynamics that result in stable populations of each predator and prey species are explored. A graphic representation of the results can be used to lead a discussion about the influence of evolutionary trade offs on ecological communities.
| Associated files | |
|---|---|
| Format | |
| Resource Group | TIEE |
| Resource Group Link | https://ecoed.esa.org/index.php?P=SearchResults&F46=TIEE |
| Primary or BEN resource type | |
| Discipline Specific Core Concepts |
|
| Life science discipline (subject) | |
| Keywords | predator, prey, evolution, microevolution, predator-prey, adaptation, natural selection, search, recognition, capture, handling, community, predator avoidance |
| Audience | |
| Intended End User Role | |
| Language | |
| Educational Language | |
| Pedagogical Use Category | |
| Pedagogical Use Description | Teachers can use this activity to teach students about predator-prey interactions and evolutionary trade-offs. The results of the activity can be a starting point for an exploration of how differences in survival between prey species affect a community. The activity is designed to be adapted to meet an instructor's needs, and so it lends itself to the addition of rules and changes to the traits of the prey and predator species. Changing the rules allows the activity to be extended to cover many aspects of evolutionary biology and predator-prey systems. |
| Aggregation Level | |
| Structure | |
| Url | http://tiee.esa.org/vol/v4/experiments/insect_predation/abstract.html |
| Full Name of Primary Author | Tamara Smith, Wyatt Hoback |
| Primary Author Controlled Name | |
| Primary Author Affiliation | Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney |
| Primary Author email | hobackww@unk.edu |
| Added By Id |
|
| Rights | Authors retain copyright |
| License | |
| Publisher | |
| Review type | |
| Drought and Water Ecosystem Services Collection | Off |
| Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection | Off |
| Big Data Collection | Off |
| Editors Choice | No |
| Resource Status | |
| Date Of Record Submission | 2006-11-09 |
| I Agree to EcoEdDL's Copyright Policy & Terms of Use | No |
| Date Of Record Release | 2010-02-16 01:49:20 |
| Last Modified By Id |
|
| Date Last Modified | 2018-07-25 09:56:51 |
| Release Flag | Published |
Create a Login
Resource Comments