Running head: EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

Evolution Lab
Illeya C Ringo
HRM/300
February 4, 2014
Kurtis Steinert

EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

Precipitation Effect on Evolution

Introduction
Precipitation can have rapid and lasting effects on an ecosystem and evolution of the life forms
throughout the region. Too much precipitation can cause flooding, eroding shorelines, and rising
sea levels. The effects of such activity wash away food sources and ultimately changes the way the
various life forms will behave and survive. If weather patterns change and eliminate or drastically
reduce food sources and habitats, it can bring various elements of the ecosystem to extinction.
The route chosen for this lab was to change precipitation patterns and land size
moderately for both islands to evaluate how this would affect the finch population and see if either
island would be able to sustain a population of finch with excessive rain or a lack of rain. These
types of climate changes are happening throughout the world and result in dramatic behavioral
adaptation to adjust to the environment.
Materials
The materials used for this lab were a computer and access to the Evolution Lab that is found on
the student website of the University of Phoenix.
Methods and Procedures
Using the scientific method the research provided background information that two islands have
similar variables pertaining to the ecosystem, finch characteristics, and finch population. The
question is will a change in the current precipitation pattern have a lasting effect on the finch
population? The hypothesis is if the precipitation increases it will erode the shorelines, create
rising seas and decrease the population of finch on either island. Another hypothesis was if the
precipitation decreases it will cause the finch to change behavior in finding food sources but will
not dramatically affect the population.
Data
The below chart reflects the data collected.

EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

Precipitation Chart
Neutral data, based on no change to ecosystem
Adverse effects of change on population
Moderate effects of change on population
Positive effects to change on population
Increase Precip. Of Darwin
Darwin
Wallace
Yea Neutra Chang Neutra Chang
r
l
e
l
e
199
7
200
200
200
200
200
7
362
225
347
280
201
7
269
260
376
396
202
7
343
223
361
350
203
7
316
270
344
412
204
7
287
304
387
424
205
7
375
309
412
451
206
7
439
267
390
521
207
7
463
309
437
509
208
7
407
261
456
505
209
6
520
328
538
588
-37%
+9%
Decrease Precip. Of Darwin
Darwin
Wallace
Yea Neutra Chang Neutra Chang
r
l
e
l
e
199
7
200
200
200
200
200
7
362
130
347
272
201
7
269
257
376
335
202
7
343
290
361
313
203
7
316
337
344
390
204
7
287
298
387
320

Increased Precip. of Wallace

Darwin
Wallace
Yea Neutra Chang Neutra Chang
r
l
e
l
e
199
7
200
200
200
200
200
7
362
288
347
232
201
7
269
341
376
195
202
7
343
455
361
266
203
7
316
387
344
255
204
7
287
315
387
279
205
7
375
438
412
241
206
7
439
468
390
285
207
7
463
459
437
290
208
7
407
585
456
311
209
6
520
506
538
348
-3%
-35%
Decrease Precip. of Wallace
Darwin
Wallace
Yea Neutra Chang Neutra Chang
r
l
e
l
e
199
7
200
200
200
200
200
7
362
133
347
301
201
7
269
216
376
220
202
7
343
410
361
259
203
7
316
466
344
278
204
7
287
383
387
357

EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

205
7
206
7
207
7
208
7
209
6

375

438

412

382

439

467

390

415

463

435

437

416

407

508

456

428

520
-8%

478

538
-7%

503

205
7
206
7
207
7
208
7
209
6

375

464

412

362

439

440

390

471

463

463

437

489

407

492

456

499

520
-2%

507

538
640
+19%

The lab reflected that with an increase in precipitation there was a slight change of the
seed types from hard to medium and soft. The lab provided information on the change of hard
seed type with a decreased of 15% while medium seed increased 11% and soft seed increased 5%.
The changes in the seed type were not necessarily enough to affect the overall population of the
finch as much as the loss of total seeds due to the precipitation washing into the surrounding
ocean.
On the opposite side of the table it reflects far less of a change in population related to the
decrease in precipitation. The exact difference was a 17% drop in hard seed that transferred to an
increase of 15% medium seeds and 3 % soft seeds.
Discussion and Results
The chart above shows that over 100 year period an ecosystem will be affected by an increase in
precipitation. In both cases involving Darwin and Wallace Islands there was an average drop of
35% in the finch population to the directly affected ecosystem. This same chart has to completely
different outcomes as to the direct affect of decreased precipitation over a 100 year span, which
resulted in a mild drop in population to the Darwin Island but a substantial increase in population
of 19% to the Wallace Island.
Conclusion

EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

It is difficult to determine the exact reasons for the results provided by the Evolution Lab. With
minimal data to research there are many variables that could have affected the outcome of the
research such as loss of food sources or habitats, or simply adapting to the environment. Although
the seed composition changed slightly in either case it is apparent that there were situations where
positive reactions happened to increase or decrease in precipitation. In either case the results
reflect that excess precipitation definitely adversely affect the finch population whereas the
decrease in precipitation simple encouraged the population to change in one environment and not
in the other. Providing more variables such as types of food sources and habitats would enable a
better analysis and conclusion to the research of how the finch is affected on both Darwin and
Wallace Islands with the change in precipitation.

EVOLUTION LAB, PRECIPATATIONS AFFECT ON EVOLUTION

References
University of Phoenix. (2012). Evolution Lab. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, BIO101
website.