Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____
Honors Biology: The Great Bean Hunt
Introduction: Within every community there is a variety of species, both predator and prey. In stable
communities each species tends to maintain a relatively constant population size, particularly when
viewed over the long term. This condition is known as equilibrium. However, during times of
environmental change, a new balance of predators and prey are established. This lab will explore how
the forces of natural selection operate to favor species with certain physical traits while limiting the
success of others. In this experiment four different prey species (pinto beans, white beans, kidney
beans, black beans) will be the prey. Three different predators (spoons, forks, knives) will be allowed
to hunt for whichever prey type they can find. At the end of each class, reproduction will occur within
the predators and the surviving prey. As the forces of natural selection act, students will observe how
each prey and predator species is affected by their inherited traits. Students will also observe how the
environment affects each of the predators and prey.
Foraging: Each predator will be allowed to hunt for ~5 minutes. Each student will be given either a
spoon, fork, or knife. During the hunting period students will try and scoop the various beans onto the
utensil and the place them into a cup. The cup must be kept upright at all times as the beans are
scooped and placed into the cup. The following actions are not allowed during this lab and will cause
your grade to be lowered if caught: (1) Flipping the prey into the cups. (2) Shoveling the prey into
cups. (3) Using your hands to pick up the prey. (4) Spilling the cups of others.
Problem Question: Circle one of the problem questions below and write your hypothesis. Remember to write
your hypothesis as a “if…then” statement.
1. Which prey species do you predict will be best adapted to its environment? Why? __________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which prey species do you think will be least adapted to its environment? Why? ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which predator species do you predict will be best adapted to its environment? Why? _______________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Which predator species do you predict will be least adapted to its environment? Why? ______________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Materials:
1. Bags of various beans (pinto, white, black, kidney)
2. Boxes of plastic spoons, forks, and knives.
3. Plastic stakes and rope
4. Stopwatch
5. Plastic cups
6. Large area of land
Data Collection: Record the data that is collected in the tables on the following page. Be sure to write neatly
and double check for accuracy. This will be a combined project between all of Mr. Kobe’s biology classes.
Each class period will require information from the previous class. Inaccurate data collecting will result in a
more difficult analysis.
Graph Analysis: Once the data has been collected and shared, you will create two graphs to help illustrate the
collected information. You will be graphing the total # prey/time. Graph the grey column of the data tables
below.
Prey Data Tables
st
1 Generation
Prey
Total # Prey
Prey Caught
Prey Survived
Kidney Bean
500
500
500
500
425
344
281
135
75
156
219
365
Prey
Total # Prey
Prey Caught
Prey Survived
Kidney Bean
184
383
537
896
133
247
234
276
51
136
303
620
Prey
Total # Prey
Prey Caught
Prey Survived
Kidney Bean
92
245
546
1117
51
132
246
329
41
113
300
788
Prey
Total # Prey
Prey Caught
Prey Survived
Kidney Bean
66
182
483
1269
Prey Caught
Prey Survived
Pinto Bean
White Bean
Black Bean
2nd Generation
Pinto Bean
White Bean
Black Bean
3rd Generation
Pinto Bean
White Bean
Black Bean
4th Generation
Pinto Bean
White Bean
Black Bean
5th Generation
Prey
Total # Prey
Kidney Bean
Pinto Bean
White Bean
Black Bean
Prey Graph: You will be graphing the total number of prey / time.
Predator Data Tables
1st generation
Predator
Total # Predators
# Prey Caught
Spoon
Knife
6
6
6
489
439
257
Predator
Total # Predators
# Prey Caught
Spoon
Knife
7
7
4
404
337
149
Predator
Total # Predators
# Prey Caught
Spoon
Knife
8
7
3
353
331
73
Predator
Total # Predators
# Prey Caught
Spoon
Knife
8
8
2
Predator
Total # Predators
Fork
2nd Generation
Fork
3rd Generation
Fork
4th Generation
Fork
5th Generation
# Prey Caught
Spoon
Fork
Knife
Predator Graph: You will be graphing the total number of predators / time.
Use this paper as a guide when writing your report. All the questions below are expected to be included in your
lab report. Be sure separate each section of your report and to type your report using your best writing skills.
Create a Title: _____________________________
Introduction: The “introduction” has four subsections. Be sure to label and separate each subsection. The following
questions should be answered in paragraph form using your best writing skills.
A. Purpose: In your own words describe what you believe is the purpose of this lab in a clear and concise manner.
B. Background Information:
1. Define Natural Selection
2. Define Adaptation
3. Give an example of an adaptation and explain how it aids in the survival of that organism.
4. Define Predator
5. Define Prey
C. Problem Question: state the original problem question you choose to answer.
D. Hypothesis: state your original hypothesis you created before we performed the experiment. There is no penalty if
your hypothesis is inaccurate.
Materials and Procedures:
List the materials needed to perform this experiment from the beginning.
List the procedures performed from the beginning. Be specific with your procedures because they should allow an
outsider to re-perform the experiment exactly as we did during class. Be specific. No vague directions!
Data/Results: In a scientific report, you need to include your data. Retype your data tables and graphs in this section. All
tables and graphs must be typed and created using a computer. No hand drawn graphs will be graded. Good news…I will
place the data tables online for you to download.
Analysis: This section will be the heart of your lab report. This is where you need to explain what actually happened and
why. The following questions should be answered in paragraph form using your best writing skills. Be sure to include the
question number (in parentheses) in your explanation where you answered each question. However, I will not accept any
reports where the following questions are simply answered in number format. I expect much more than just 8 sentences
running together.
1. In general, how does an environment aid in the survival of an organism?
2. According to the data collected, which predator was best adapted? Why?
3. According to the data collected, which predator was least adapted? Why?
4. According to the data collected, which prey was best adapted? Why?
5. According to the data collected, which prey was least adapted? Why?
6. What might have happened if the experiment was continued another 5 generations? Explain.
7. How might the results have differed if this experiment was performed in a dry dirt environment (such as a
baseball/softball infield)? Explain.
8. Was your hypothesis support or not supported by the collected results? Explain.
Error analysis: What were some factors (variables) that were not controlled within the experiment? Explain how these
factors could have affected the results.
Conclusion: Write a brief summary of the main ideas learned. Restate your hypothesis and explain if it was supported or
not.
Friendly Advice:
1) Don’t wait until the final night to start the report.
2) Have someone proofread your report. Don’t just rely
on Spell Check and Grammar Check.
3) Check your printer to make sure you have ink! No
excuses on the due date.
4) All reports should be printed before you arrive to class.
You will not have access to my printer.
Typed Format:
1) Times New Roman, Size 12 font
2) Double space
3) 1 inch margins (the default is not 1 inch)