WALKINGSTICK PREDATION: BUSH ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY

Try the simulated population of walkingstcks that exhibit colour variation to investigate the impact of predation on the insects in 3 different environments.
Conduct predation interactions over 5 generations, collect population statistics, and graph the numbers of individuals with colour trait in each generation.

You should be able to see that the ratio of individuals with specific colour traits varies, depending on the colour of the environment in which they live.

Record the data of your findings in your journal.
You are a predator. You prey on walkingsticks. This is what the walkingstick looks like.
a. Open the walkingstick multimedia program to Level 1—Eat Insects.
b. Select the 30 Clicks to Eat Insects button.
c. Use your 30 clicks to eat as many as you can.
d. Then click the Results button.
e. Record your results in the table shown below in your journal.
f. Click Start Over and select 30 Seconds to Eat Insects. Eat as many insects as you can in 30 seconds.
g. Record your results in the table below in your journal.

		Brown	Green Brown	Green
30 clicks	Eaten	10	10	10
30 clicks	Survived	6	6	6
30s	Eaten	15	10	12
30s	Survived	1	6	4

Write responses to these items in your journal.

1.     Which color of walkingstick was easiest to find? Which was hardest? Why do you think that was the case?

The brown colour walkingstick was the easiest to find. The green brown colour was the hardest to find. Brown could only camouflage among the branches, but the green brown ones could hide not only among the branches but also the leaves.

2.     Which color of walkingstick survived best when there was a time limit on feeding? Why do you think that color survived best?

Green brown. It camouflaged well among the leaves and branches, making it difficult to find.

3.     Discuss the results of the walkingstick predation in terms of adaptations.

It adapted to another colour to enable itself to camouflage better among the leaves and branches to prevent predators to finding them and feeding on them.