Guppy Simulation

1. If being flashy and colorful attracts predators, why do you think guppies are so colorful?
Most likely to attract females; no other explanation is really plausible.

2. The fish's common name is guppy or millions fish.  Its scientific name is poecilia reticulata.  Average size is 3.5 cm.

3. The predator's common name is pike cichlid, its scientific name is crenicichla alta, and originates from Trinidad and Latin America.

4. Predator populations would be heavily influenced by how deep and accessible whatever part of the stream it is.

5. John Endler was an evolutionary biologist who studied wild guppy populations in Trinidad.

6.
Pool 1: Brightly multicolored with large spots.
Pool 2: Medium coloration on body and tail, with medium-sized spots.
Pool 3: Drab coloration, very small spots concentrated near tail.

7. If there are more predators in one area of the stream, then there will be less brightly colored guppies.

8. If the fish are brighter, they're much more likely to be targeted by predators.

9. Yes, in areas with less predators the brightest guppies take over the population.  In areas with more predators, only the drabber fish survive.  This goes with the hypothesis.

10. Two factors influence the characteristics of a guppy population: the predators, and the mates (natural and sexual selection).  Saying that male guppies are caught in the crossfire more or less means this; they need to find a safe median between attracting mates and avoiding predators.

11. Guppies have different coloration in different areas of the stream based on predator population.  They adapt to be drabber/brighter when predators are more/less.

12. The guppies would not attract mates because they have so little coloration, but would not be preyed upon.  If there are brighter guppies in the area, they would win out over time.

13. The brighter guppies would be preyed upon and would die off due to the high amount of predators, because their coloration would be more visible to predators.  Unfortune.
         

	% of Brightest Guppies (10 generations)	% of Bright Guppies (10 generations)	% of Drab Guppies (10 generations)	% of DrabbestGuppies (10 generations)
Trial 1 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus	70%	21%	6%	2%
Trial 2 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara	14%	86%	0%	0%
Trial 3 Guppy: Even Mix Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	0%	3%	2%	95%
Trial 4 Guppy: Mostly Bright Predators: 30 Rivulus	88%	9%	1%	3%
Trial 5 Guppy: Mostly Drab Predators: 30 Rivulus, 30 Acara, 30 Cichlid	0%	2%	6%	93%