EXERCISE 3

BIRD BEAK BUFFET ADAPTATION

Year & Section: 2MBIO7 Group No. : 10

Name:
Tubaon, Normin Gem Villanueva, Carl Jonnen
Uy, John Christian Yamamoto, Alicia Monique
***Villamanca, John Jerald***

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Hypothesis:
FOOD PREFERENCES
Ho: No food is preferred by a bird that has a specific type of beak.
Ha: There is a specific food that a bird prefers over the other because of their beak type.

SURVIVAL CHALLENGE
Ho: No significant difference was found in the survival rate of the birds in the given environment.
Ha: There is a significant difference between the survival rate of the birds in the given
environment, due to their beak type.

Guide Questions
Part 1

1. Which beak was best adapted to each type of food? Which beak was least adapted to each
type of food?

Utilizing the data obtained by the group, it is observed that “binder clip” type of beak was
best adapted to both mung beans and rice grains. Chopsticks was best adapted to rice grains.
The data, however, obtained using chopsticks revealed the highest skewness in comparison
to the other beak types. Furthermore, it is also observed that the least adapted beak type for
both mung beans and rice grains was the tweezers, and binder clips for macaroni.

2. Would you change your feeding strategy if you had another opportunity to “feed?”
Explain.

After the activity, the group members had a preferences of changing to a "binder clip beak"
feeding method. In an island where all those resources are present, the binder clip type of
beak was the one who was able to utilize all the resources in its envirinment. The only
possible competition would come from the "chopsticks-beak" birds. Other bird populations
would be subjected into a heavily disadvantageous situation and forced to eat macaroni
which the binder clips could not eat. Overall, however, the binder clips dominated the
island. Hence, the desire of having the binder clip type of beak.
 3. What would happen if all of the bird types in this activity flew to an island where no birds
had been before and the only food available was macaroni? Which birds would be most
successful? Which birds would be least successful?

Due to lack of utilization of food resources on the island, the amount of the macaroni food
is relatively high in the area. Observed in the results of the activity, the beak type that
would strive in this kind of environment, where there is a surplus of the macaroni food
type, would be the chopsticks. On the other hand, the least successful in thriving the area
would be the tweezers.

4. If you came back to this island (from c) in 50 years, what should you expect to see? (What
type of birds will live on the island?)

Coming back to an island where macaroni food type dominates, I would expect to see birds
with a chopsticks type of beak. They were the ones who were more suited for the
consumption of macaroni as seen in the results. In 50 years, it would be possible that the
birds with tweezer type of beak would be extinct or would have migrated somewhere
because their beaks are not advantageous for the consumption of the only food resource
available.

5. How does this lab simulation provide support for the theory of evolution?

Due to difference in prevailing environmental conditions that causes in changes in

the food available on it, birds are able to alter their beaks to adapt to these changes.
Pressures, such as competition and food scarcity, will force the birds to change their beaks
gradually after many generations. This is called the microevolution. The lab simulation
provided support for evolution since different sizes and types of bird beaks were evident
in accordance to their food availability.

Part 2

1. Compare and contrast the behavior/interactions/movements of birds inside cages and

in situ.

All caged birds are either captured or captive-bred. In the wild, these beautiful beings
are never alone, and if separated even for just a moment, they call wildly to their
flockmates. Flock-oriented, they preen each other, fly together, play, and share egg-
incubation duties. Many species of birds mate for life and share parenting tasks. Most
birds will not take a second mate in the wild if their first is lost. Life in captivity is often
a death sentence for birds, who may suffer from malnutrition, an improper
environment, loneliness, and the stress of confinement. Birds are meant to fly and be
 with others of their own kind in a natural environment. Confinement causes birds to
have temper tantrums and mood swings.

2. Discuss the following Bird Watching related terms.

A. Twitch

Twitching is a British term used to mean "the pursuit of a previously located rare
bird."

B. Lifer

The term lifer refers to a bird species when it is first seen and positively identified
by an individual birder. Lifer is a designation for a species that individual birders
has never seen previously, not a returning migrant, new sighting for the year, or
other repeat sighting.

C. Spark bird

A Spark Bird is a species that triggers a lifelong passion for birding.