THE MACARONI LAB
An Inquiry Project on Predator-Prey Relationships
Background
Predation, or predator-prey relationship, is an ecological interaction in which one organism (the
predator) kills and eats another organism (the prey). On the individual level, the predator is benefited
from the relationship, while the prey is clearly harmed by it. This activity will allow you to not only
analyze such a relationship, but it will also allow you to simulate how living organisms capture their prey
and what factors make them a successful predator.
Activity Warm-up
1. What factors can limit the success of a predator? List at least 3.
2. What factors or characteristics can make a predator successful?
3. What effects do you think a fire might have on the predator-prey relationship between a red-tailed
hawk and a cotton-tail rabbit?
Animals face multiple obstacles while trying to capture prey or to avoid becoming prey. The
structure of the habitat of an animal affects the difficulty of finding food, as does the density of the
vegetation in which the food is hidden, the space and density of the food item, the color of the food in
relation to its background, and the type of appendage predators use to obtain prey. In this lab you will
develop a hypothesis, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from your data.
PROCEDURE
1. You are to work in pairs.
2. You and your partner need to choose two different utensils and record them below. Your utensils
will simulate your predator’s appendage type.
3. Based on the types of appendages you have chosen develop a hypothesis that you will test in this
activity. Write it below.
4. Now, select one of your utensils. One member will use this utensil for three 45 second trials. You
will attempt to locate and capture as much prey (pasta) as possible in that time period.
 You may only capture one prey at a time (in reality, a predator can only catch one
organism at a time!)
5. At the end of each 45 second trial, record the total number of pasta noodles collected, and then
count the specific number of each color found and collected. Record your data.
6. Switch partners and repeat steps 5 and 6 with the second utensil in the same area as the first three
trials were completed.
Utensil #1 ______________________________
Utensil #2__________________________________
Independent Variable _____________________
Dependent Variable __________________________
Hypothesis (If, then, because):
DATA
Utensil #1
Green Pasta
Yellow Pasta
Orange Pasta
Green Pasta
Yellow Pasta
Orange Pasta
Total Pasta
Trail #1
Trail #2
Trail #3
Utensil #2
Trail #1
Trail #2
Trail #3
Total Pasta
CONCLUSIONS
1. Using the above data, decide the best way to represent your data on a graph. Make sure each graph
has a title, both x and y axes are labeled, and spaces in between are even.
2. Was your hypothesis correct? Explain why/why not.
3.
a. In your trials, what type of appendage would allow more organisms to survive and reproduce?
Why?
b. Give an example of an animal and how its appendages are adapted to suit its needs.
4. What are some abiotic factors that may affect the success or failure of a predator? Explain.
5. Use the process of natural selection to explain how a species might evolve from having organisms with
a spoon appendage to an organism with a fork appendage.