Experiment 9

Bird Beak Buffet Adaptation

Samantha Nicole C. Arda, Rachel Anne R. Cajiles, Lindsay Faye L. Ejan, Tanya K. Sharma

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España Street,
Manila 108

Abstract
Bird adaptations were experienced first-hand by students by rotating through a series of
feeding stations. Different tools that equate to a certain style of bird beak were used to understand
how adaptations connect birds to certain habitats and behaviors. Students also observed bird
adaptations by observing them with the use of binoculars. To imitate a natural environment of
birds with different beaks struggling to find food, beaks were represented by scissors, chopsticks,
tweezers, and large binder clips while different kinds of beans, and dried macaroni represent the
bird’s food. In this experiment, it was observed that smaller beak variations proved to be
disadvantageous which leads to the decrease in population of the species with smaller beaks. Birds
with bigger beakers are more advantageous and they can survive better than birds with smaller
beaks

Introduction

Adaptation is the process of adjustment of an organism to an area’s environmental

conditions. Organisms develop traits to be able to perform a certain function and allow them to
thrive in an environment. Although one adaptation might be very useful for a certain species in a
specific environment, that same trait might not be useful for another species in a different
environment.

Understanding the process of evolution aids in understanding how adaptations arise.

Populations of plants, animals and other living organisms change over many, many generations
through the process of natural selection. Natural selection happens in a species when individuals
that have traits better adapted for their environment survive longer and have more offsprings. They
pass on the beneficial adaptations to their offspring. Over the generations these adaptive traits
become more common in the population until nearly all individuals in a species have the
adaptation.

A bird’s beak is a unique and multi-functional tool. It serves as a tool to capture food,
communicate, groom feathers, defend territories, and attack rivals. The bird’s main source of food
is dependent on the shape of a bird’s beak. The shape of a bird’s beak is designed for eating
particular types of food such as: seeds, fruit, insects, nectar, fish, or small mammals. Bird beaks
have adapted over time to help birds find food within their habitat which allows them to survive.
Some examples of bird beaks that may have evolved over a long period of time and demonstrate a
particular adaptation are those of grosbeak, woodpeckers, terns, hummingbirds and raptors.
Grosbeaks and cardinals have short, thick, cone-shaped beaks used for crunching and cracking
seeds. Woodpeckers have thin, chisel-type beaks to allow them to search out insects in trees.
Loons, herons, terns, and bitterns have straight, pointed bills to help spear prey such as fish.
Hummingbirds have straw-like beak used to suck up nectar from flowers. Raptors have hook-like
beaks used to tear apart small prey such as mice.

This experiment aims students to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of
variations, by simulating birds with different types of beaks competing for various foods; to
explain natural selection and the conditions necessary for it to occur and discuss the changes in a
population in the context of natural selection; to scientifically use terms such as natural selection,
evolution and adaptation. Lastly, this experiment aims to organize data in a table and graph the
changes in a population over time.

Methodology

A. Bird Beak Adaptation

Each member of the group should have one of the following materials: chopsticks,
tweezers, binder clip or pair of scissors. The students became very hungry birds and the tool that
they have served as their beaks to pick up food on top of the table. The cup will serve as their
stomachs and should always be kept upright. The beak was held in one hand while the cup was in
the other hand. Only food that was placed in the cup by the beak has been “eaten.” One minute
was given to the members to collect as much food in the stomach as possible. The contents were
counted when the time ended. Individual data and total number of each type of food were recorded.
The best type of bird beak used for the type of food was predicted. The class data table was
analyzed. Graphs were also made to explain the changes over time.

B. Bird Watching and Photography

The behavior and interactions of at least 5 bird species inside the UST campus were
observed. Binoculars were used to observe the birds’ movements, behavior and interactions. The
students took photos of the bird species in situ.

Results and Discussion

Bird Beak Adaptation
Table 1. Prediction of the best bird beak type for each food type.

Food Type Best Bird Beak Type for Food Type

Munggo Beans Bullclip

Macaroni Chopsticks

Pinto Beans Bullclip

Table 1 shows the prediction of the best bird beak type for each food type. Among the bird

beak types, bulldog clip shows to be the most efficient, as it is able to pick up both munggo and

pinto beans from all food types. This can be explained since bullclips have larger surface area

compared to other equipment used, plus the handles on the clip account for a better and stronger

grip.

Table 2. Bird population data

Number of Birds per Year

Type of Beaks Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Scissors 10 39 0 0
 Chopsticks 40 35 46 0

Tweezers 9 0 0 0

Binder clip 41 57 151 154

Table 3. Trials on Food Type and Bird Beak Type

Trial 1

Macaroni Munggo Pinto Bean

Tweezers 4 2 3

Scissors 1 4 5

Clip 5 12 24

Chopsticks 29 6 5

Trial 2

Macaroni Munggo Pinto Bean

Scissors 28 1 10

Clip 10 13 25

Clip 0 8 1

Chopsticks 25 0 10

Trial 3

Macaroni Munggo Pinto Bean

Clip 30 0 2
 Clip 6 38 25

Clip 15 16 19

Chopsticks 39 1 6

Trial 4

Macaroni Munggo Pinto Bean

Clip 11 2 3

Clip 11 27 7

Clip 0 51 5

Clip 33 0 4

As seen in Table 3, all trials are dominated by the efficiency of bull clips in picking up the

different types of food presented. As the trials progressed, dead species were replaced by bull clips,

because they proved to be more efficient than the rest of the bird beak types.

Table 5. Data summary for Bird Beak Buffet Experiment

Type of Beak Mung Beans Macaroni Pinto Beans Total Food

Scissors 5 29 15 49

Chopsticks 7 93 21 121

Tweezers 2 4 3 9

Large binder clip 167 121 115 403

TOTAL 181 247 154 582

The data from this experiment showed that the most efficient “beak” was when the large
binder clip was used. This is because it can hold a lot more than the other beaks. And the easiest
food type for all beaks to get was the Macaroni. This may be because macaroni are bigger and
easier to get rather than the small beans.
For the Macaroni using the chopsticks will be the most efficient.For the Mung beans, using
the large binder clips was the most efficient. Although this would differ from person to person,
depending on how adept the person is when it comes to using chopsticks. Among all the food
types, the pinto beans were the hardest to eat because of its size. The best type of beak for this is
the large binder clip.

Bird Watching and Photography

Table 5. Data gathered after bird watching
Species Scientific Common Picture on Observed Scientific
Name Name Site behavior, Name of
interactions, trees where
or birds
movements perched

1 Rhipidura Pied Fantail Spreads tail Mangifera

javanica feathers like a indica
fan
occasionally

2 Motacilla White- Constant tail Perched on

maderaspaten browed wagging fountain
sis wagtail when perched
on a branch

3 Lonchura Maya bird Mostly Pterocarpus

atricapilla flocked indicus
together,
perches in
shady area

Conclusion
Through the Bird Beak Adaptation experiment, Bull clip was tested to be the most efficient
beak type among others due to its larger surface area and better grip. Three species of birds were
found around UST through the Bird Watching experiment, namely Rhipidura javanica, Motacilla
maderaspatensis, and Lonchura atricapilla.

Guide Questions
1. Which beak was best adapted to each type of food? Which beak was least adapted to
each type of food?
The best adapted beak for Munggo is Bull clip, Chopsticks for Macaroni and
Clips for Pinto Beans. The least adapted beak for Munggo is tweezers, Clips for
Macaroni and Tweezers for Pinto Beans.
2. Would you change your feeding strategy if you had another opportunity to “feed?”
Explain.
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?
The bird that would be the most successful is the one that has a Chopsticks beak
and the least success bird would be the one that has tweezers as a beak.
4. If you came back to this island in 50 years, what should you expect to see? (What
type of birds will leave on the island?)
After 50 years, the bird with chopsticks beak would be still in the island and the
one with tweezers beak would leave the island since the environment is not suitable for
them.
5. How does this lab simulation provide support for the theory of evolution?
Understanding the adaptations of organisms can further lead to understanding the
theory of evolution. Populations of different organisms change over many generations.
This is due to natural selection which happens when an individual develops traits better
adapted for and environment to survive longer and produce more offsprings. These traits
are passed on their offsprings and become more common in the population as generations
pass until nearly all individuals in a species have the adaptive trait.

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

and in situ.
When they are in their normal habitat, They preen each other, fly together, play,
and share egg-incubation duties. Many bird species mate for life and share parenting
tasks. When captivated, many birds do not get the mental stimulation or companionship
that they need, and normal bird behaviors—such as flock-calling, biting, chewing, and
throwing food—are often unwelcome to unprepared human guardians.
 2. Discuss the following Bird Watching related terms
a. Twitch - the act of traveling a long distance to see a rare bird
b. Lifer - a first-ever sighting of a bird species by an observer; an addition to one's
life list
c. Spark bird - a species that triggers a lifelong obsession with birding

References
Birkhead, T., Wimpenny, J., & Montgomerie, B. (2014). Ten Thousand Birds.
doi:10.1515/9781400848836

Peterson, R. T. (1947). A Field Guide to the Birds. Eastern Land and Water Birds.
Bird-Banding,18(4), 187. doi:10.2307/4509989

Shennan, S. (2011). Descent with Modification and the Archaeological Record. Culture
Evolves,233-250. doi:10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199608966.003.0014

Guilherme, J. L., & Pereira, H. M. (2013). Adaptation of Bird Communities to Farmland

Abandonment in a Mountain Landscape. PLoS ONE,8(9).
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073619
 Experiment 10

Hug A Tree for Biodiversity Conservation

Samantha Nicole C. Arda, Rachel Anne R. Cajiles, Lindsay Faye L. Ejan, Tanya K. Sharma

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España Street,
Manila 108

Abstract
The Philippines is considered a biodiversity hotspot for both plants and animals. Native or
indigenous species of plants naturally grow in the area. Exotic species are those that were
accidentally introduced in the area. In this experiment, the evenness and the richness of the species
was computed to assess the diversity of tree species within the University of Santo Tomas. It was
found that the native species in specific locations within UST was more abundant, with 38 out of
61, than the exotic species, with 23 out of 61.

Introduction
The world faces many challenges for the conservation of biology to enhance the level of
protection of ecosystem and biological diversity in landscapes with increasingly dominated by
human beings. Due to habitat alteration , over-exploitation, pollution etc. threatens the global
biological resources thus, resulted to the fast depletion of biodiversity in different ecosystems and
adversely affected the ecological balance. Therefore, for the conservation of the environment,
many laws were enacted from time to time (Jaisankar, 2018).
Individual species and ecosystems have evolved over millions of years into a complex
interdependence. The ecological arguments for conserving biodiversity are therefore based on the
premise that we need to preserve biodiversity in order to maintain our own life support systems.
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of all species on earth. It encompasses all the
variety of living things, plants, animals and microbes and all the places where they're found. It is
the diversity of life, from genes to whole ecosystems (Vira, 2015).
Maintaining viable populations of species whether plant or animal, is a crucial factor in
biodiversity conservation and this requires the appropriate conservation of important ecosystems
and habitats. Tree planting is one of the popular conservation project primarily as a Reforestation
effort and initiative. Native or indigenous species of plants are those that naturally grows in an
area such as narra, kamagong, and molave. While exotic species of plants are those that are
accidentally or deliberately introduced in the are such as Acacia, Gmelina, and fire tree.
Scientists use a standard method to measure the size of trees, diameter-at-breast height
(DBH), to ensure consistency over time, across plots and between data collectors. DBH means the
diameter of each tree is measured at “breast height”, defined as 1.35m up from the highest point
of ground at the tree’s base. DBH measurements can be used to estimate the volume, biomass, and
carbon storage of trees.
Biological diversity can be quantified in many different ways. The two main factors taken
into account when measuring diversity are richness and evenness. Richness is a measurement of
the number of different kinds of organisms present in a particular area. However, evenness
compares the similarity of the population size of each of the species present.
This experiment aims to identify and name trees inside the University of Santo Tomas,
measure the diameter breast height (DBH) of the trees, classify the trees wheter they are native or
excotic, to compute for the species richness and species evenness, and to assess the tree species
diversity in UST based on species richness and evenness (Nasibulina, 2018).

Methodology
Trees inside the Botanical Garden and areas near within the vicinity of the UST Chapel,
football field and plaza mayor were identified and named. After identifying, the trees were
measured by its DBH (diameter breast height) and recorded the data obtained. It was further
classified whether they are native or exotic species. Lastly, richness and evenness of each recorded
species of trees were computed.

Results and Discussion

Trees located within the vicinity of the University of Santo Tomas were named. The trees
were measured by its DBH (diameter breast height), its genus and species were identified and
further classified whether they are native or exotic species.

Table 1. Tree inventory data table

No. Common Name Genus Species DBH (diameter Native or
breast height) in Exotic
cm

1 Bignay Antidesma bunius 22 cm Exotic

2 Limonsito Trichasia trifolia 19 cm Exotic

3 Tropical Golden Cassia fistula 53 cm Exotic

Shower

4 Tropical Golden Cassia fistula 144 cm Exotic

Shower

5 Duhat Syzgium cumini 170 cm Native

6 Siar Deltophorum pterocarpum 168 cm Native

7 Siar Deltophorum pterocarpum 224 cm Native

8 Siar Deltophorum pterocarpum 147 cm Native

9 Fire tree Delonix regia 179 cm Exotic

10 Coconut tree Cocos nucifera 93 cm Native

11 Bani Pongamia pinnata 135 cm Native

12 Banaba Langerstroemia speciosa 74 cm Native

13 Banaba Langerstroemia speciosa 93 cm Native

14 Kamagong Diospyros philippinensis 213 cm Native

15 Prickly Narra Pterocarpus indicus 182 cm Native

16 Camphor Cinnamomum camphora 175 cm Exotic

16 Camphor Cinnamomum camphora 173 cm Exotic

17 Molave Vitex parviflora 135 cm Native

18 Tsampakang Puti Michelia alba 39 cm Native

19 Antipolo Artocarpus blancoi 35 cm Native

20 Malugai Pometia pinnata 53 cm Native

21 Malugai Pometia pinnata 138 cm Native

22 Malugai Pometia pinnata 57 cm Native

23 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla 156 cm Native

24 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla 78 cm Native

25 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla 166 cm Native

26 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla 138 cm Native

27 Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla 120 cm Native

28 Buddhist pine Podocarpus acrophyllus 23 cm Native

29 Antipolo Artocarpus blancoi 91 cm Native

30 Camphor Cinnamomum camphora 165 cm Native

31 Camphor Cinnamomum camphora 137 cm Native

32 Prickly Narra Pterocarpus indicus 165 cm Native

33 Prickly Narra Pterocarpus indicus 172 cm Native

34 Prickly Narra Pterocarpus indicus 148 cm Native

35 Gakakan Drypetes falcata 117 cm Native

36 Dita Alstonia scholaris 211 cm Exotic

37 Dita Alstonia scholaris 188 cm Exotic

38 Tropical Golden Cassia fistula 142 cm Native

Shower

39 Tropical Golden Cassia fistula 128 cm Native

Shower

40 Fire tree Delonix regiea 180 cm Exotic

41 Fire tree Delonix regiea 165 cm Exotic

42 Fire tree Delonix regiea 187 cm Exotic

43 Star tree Deltophorum pterocarpum 165 cm Exotic

44 Kamagong Diospyros philippinensis 191 cm Native

45 Nangka Artocarpus heterophilus 63.5 cm Exotic

 46 African tulip tree Spathodea campanulata 118 cm Exotic

47 Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla 76.2 cm Exotic

48 Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla 58 cm Exotic

49 Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla 68 cm Exotic

50 Mango Mangifera indica 185 cm Exotic

51 Mango Mangifera indica 166 cm Exotic

52 Banaba Lagerstroemia speciosa 30 cm Exotic

53 Manila Palm Adonidia merrilii 54 cm Native

54 Manila Palm Adonidia merrilii 51 cm Native

55 Manila Palm Adonidia merrilii 57 cm Native

56 Manila Palm Adonidia merrilii 48 cm Native

57 Alagaw Premna odorata 117 cm Native

58 Balimbing Averrhoa carambola 85 cm Exotic

59 Apatot Morinda citrifolia 36 cm Exotic

60 Santol Sandoricum koetjape 96 cm Exotic

61 Santol Sandoricum koetjape 85 cm Exotic

There were a total of 61 trees present located inside the University of Santo Tomas. The
relationship between trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (H) is the most
commonly used measurement of tree size. These trees have diameter breast height within the range
of 19 cm to 224 cm. The Trichasia trifolia has the smallest diameter breast height while
Deltophorum pterocarpum has the largest. The relationship between trunk diameter at breast
height (DBH) and tree height (H) is the most commonly used measurement of tree size. DBH
refers to the tree diameter measured at 4.5 feet above the ground. Thirty eight trees native to the
Philippines were classified while 23 of the trees were exotic. Native trees are those that were
present in an area due to natural distribution while exotic trees are those that were present in an
area outside its native either purposely of accidentally.
Table 2. Species Diversity data

No. Scientific Name Common Name Species Species Evenness

Richness

1 Antidesma bunius Bignay x Not evenly distributed

2 Trichasia trifolia Limonsito x Not evenly distributed

3 Cassia fistula Tropical Golden xxxxxx Concentrated

Shower

4 Syzgium cumini Duhat x Not evenly distributed

5 Deltophorum pterocarpum Siar xxxx Most concentrated in Plaza

Mayor

6 Delonix regia Fire tree xxxxxxx Evenly distributed

7 Cocos nucifera Coconut tree x Not evenly distributed

8 Pongamia pinnata Bani x Not evenly distributed

9 Langerstroemia speciosa Banaba xxxxx Most concentrated in the

Botanical Garden

10 Diospyros philippinensis Kamagong xx Concentrated in Botanical

Garden

11 Pterocarpus indicus Prickly Narra xxxx Evenly distributed

12 Cinnamomum camphora Camphor xxxxxxx Evenly distributed

13 Vitex parviflora Molave x Not evenly distributed

14 Michelia alba Tsampakang Puti x Not evenly distributed

15 Artocarpus blancoi Antipolo xxxx Evenly distributed

16 Pometia pinnata Malugai xxx Concentrated in the

football field
 17 Swietenia macrophylla Mahogany xxxxx Concentrated in the
football field

18 Podocarpus macrophyllus Buddhist pine x Not evenly distributed

19 Drypetes falcata Gakakan x Not evenly distributed

20 Alstonia scholaris Dita xx Concentrated in the

Football field

21 Artocarpus heterophilus Nangka x Not evenly distributed

22 Spathodea campanulata African tulip tree x Not evenly distributed

23 Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island Pine xxx Concentrated in the UST

chapel

24 Mangifera indica Mango tree xx Concentrated in the

football field

25 Adonidia merrilii Manila Palm xxxx Concentrated in the

football field

26 Premna odorata Alagaw x Not evenly distributed

27 Averrhoa carambola Balimbing x Not evenly distributed

28 Morinda citrifolia Apatot x Not evenly distributed

29 Sandoricum koetjape Santol xx Concentrated in the

football field

Species richness, or the number of species, is the simplest measure of diversity and does
not consider differences in species relative abundance. Species evenness or the similarity in species
relative abundance in a community captures another aspect of diversity by determining diversity
as a standardized index of relative species abundance. There are 29 trees found within the given
area of University of Santo Tomas Based on the result Delonix regia and Cinnamomum camphora
are the the most commonly found tree and evenly distributed within UST. The least among the
trees and not evenly distributed trees are the Premna odorata, Averrhoa carambola, Morinda
citrifolia, Spathodea campanulata, Artocarpus heterophilus, Drypetes falcata, Podocarpus
macrophyllus, Cocos nucifera, Antidesma bunius, Trichasia trifolia, Pongamia pinnata, Vitex
parviflora, and Michelia alba.
Occurence and distribution of plants are based on Climatic ( light, water, temperature) and
Topographical factors such as physiogeographic characteristics of land in terms of elevation, slope,
and orientation.

Conclusion
In this activity, 61 trees were found located inside the University of Santo Tomas. Out of
these, 38 were native and 23 were exotic species. The diameter breast height of these trees ranged
from 19cm to 224 cm. The Trichasia trifolia has the smallest diameter breast height while
Deltophorum pterocarpum. The camphor and fire tree were the most abundant species with 7 trees
each. Fifteen tree species were the least abundant in the university with only one tree present
namely the Apatot, Balimbing, Alagaw, African Tulip tree, Nagka, Gakakan, Buddhist Pine,
Tsampakang puti, Molave, Bani, Coconut, Bani, Duhat, Limoncito and Bignay trees. In terms of
species evenness, the trees were mostly concentrated in the football field.

Guide Questions
1. What is the importance of cultivating native species of plants?
Native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions thus, they require far less water, saving
time, money, and perhaps the most valuable natural resource, water. In addition the provide vital
habitat for birds, many other species of wildlife benefits as well.
2. Discuss the effects of plating exotic species in the biodiversity rate of a natural
ecosystem? Or in the biodiversity rate of a manmade environment such as eco-parks
The invasion of exotic species into natural habitats is considered to be a major threat to
biodiversity, and many studies have examined how exotic plants directly affect native plant species
through competitive interactions for abiotic resources. However, although exotics can have
potentially great ecological and evolutionary consequences, very few researchers have studied the
effect of exotics on the interactions between plants and their mutualistic partners, such as
pollinators, and none have reported on such impacts in logged and undisturbed boreal forest
ecosystems (Totland, 2006)

3. Describe and ideal Tree Planting Project.

Planting trees has many benefits: improved wildlife habitat, high-quality trees for timber
or specialty wood products, revegetated buffers along streams to protect water quality, increased
species diversity and resiliency, enhanced attractiveness, and a more valuable estate for your
family or heirs.
Not all tree species are suited to all sites. Observing and learning about the planting site a
year or more before planting will provide useful insights. Consider the following: soil type
(drainage, fertility, and texture), periodic flooding, amount of available sunlight, existing plant
competition, exposure/aspect/orientation of the terrain (north and east slopes generally have better
growing conditions, while south and west slopes are generally hotter and drier)
The likelihood of project success greatly improves with clearly identified planting
objectives and a selection of tree species that meet objectives and are compatible with site
conditions. The goal is to plant the right trees in the right location. In other words, plant tree species
that will meet objectives and grow well under the given site conditions (Vargas et. al, 2007).

References

Jackson, K. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles.

Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology,12(2), 147. doi:10.11606/issn.2316-

9079.v12i2p147-149

Jaisankar, I., Velmurugan, A., & Sivaperuman, C. (2018). Biodiversity Conservation: Issues

and Strategies for the Tropical Islands. Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in

Tropical Islands,525-552. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-813064-3.00019-3

Kuyah, S., Öborn, I., Jonsson, M., Dahlin, A. S., Barrios, E., Muthuri, C., . . . Sinclair, F. L.

(2016). Trees in agricultural landscapes enhance provision of ecosystem services in Sub-

Saharan Africa. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services &

Management,1-19. doi:10.1080/21513732.2016.1214178

Nasibulina, N. E. (2018). Lesson 13: What Is DBH? How Do Scientists Measure Trees?

Social Science Development Journal,3(13), 628-630. doi:10.31567/ssd.132

Totland, O., Nielsen, A., Bjerknes, A., & Ohlson, M. (2006). Effects of an exotic plant and

habitat disturbance on pollinator visitation and reproduction in a boreal forest herb.

American Journal of Botany,93(6), 868-873. doi:10.3732/ajb.93.6.868

Vira, B., Agarwal, B., Jamnadass, R., Kleinschmit, D., Mcmullin, S., Mansourian, S., . . .

Wildburger, C. (2015). 1. Forests, Trees and Landscapes for Food Security and Nutrition.

Forests and Food: Addressing Hunger and Nutrition Across Sustainable Landscapes,9-26.

doi:10.11647/obp.0085.01