Natural Selection Simulation
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Natural_Selection
Exploration
1. What are some interesting things that you have control over in the simulation?
2. What happens to the bunny population if a friend is never added? Why is this?
3. What happens when you add a friend?
4.
What happens to the population if the food is super abundant and there are no predators?
5. What 3 genetic mutations can you introduce to the bunnies?
Do the following experiments and record your observations in the table below. Watch the graph as well as the
animation. Observe the relative numbers of each variation of bunny (ex. Brown vs. white, short teeth vs. long
teeth)
Experiment A
 Add a friend and a brown fur mutation to the bunny population.
 Add the (natural) selection factor* of wolves after the third generation of
offspring appear.
 Observe for several generations.
Experiment B
 Add a friend and a brown fur mutation to the bunny population.
 Add the (natural) selection factor of food after the third generation of
offspring appear. (this means you are limiting the amount of food available).
 Observe for several generations.
Experiment C
 Add a friend and a long teeth mutation to the bunny population.
 Add the (natural) selection factor of wolves after the third generation of
offspring appear.
 Observe for several generations.
Experiment D
 Add a friend and a long teeth mutation to the bunny population.
 Add the (natural) selection factor of food after the third generation of
offspring appear.
Experiment E
 Repeat Experiment A in the Arctic Environment.
Results
Experiment
Comment on population changes during simulation
A
B
C
D
E
Conclusions
6. Define variation. What genetic variations are presented during this simulation?
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7. Define adaptation. Give two examples when an adaptation is beneficial to the bunnies.
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8. None of the rabbits actually changed colour, yet the distribution of different colours in the population
changed over time in different environments. Explain how this happens.
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9. What are 2 other (natural) selection factors which could affect animal populations in the real world?
Describe an adaptation that would be beneficial in each case.
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