Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis PERFORMANCE
TASK
Read the following information, then complete Parts 1 and 2.
INTRODUCTION: THE FLASHY GUPPY
A properly dressed male guppy, with its bright blue spots and brilliant splashes of
orange, can’t help but stand out. But for a fish that spends its life swimming among
predators, it seems that good camouflage would have a big advantage over colors that
attract attention. If flashiness is a liability, why do we still see this trait in the population?
ENDLER’S RESEARCH
When evolutionary biologist John Endler began studying Trinidad’s wild guppies in
the 1970s, he was struck by the wide variation among guppies from different streams,
even among guppies living in different parts of the same stream. Males from one
pool sported vivid blue and orange splotches along their sides, while those farther
downstream carried only modest dots of color near their tails. Endler also observed
differences in the distribution of guppy predators, and in the color and size of gravel in
different stream locations.
Endler photographed hundreds of guppies and carefully collected data about their size,
color, and the size and placement of their spots. He began to see a strong correlation
between where guppies lived in a particular stream and whether the fish were bright
or drab. But what was responsible for these trends in coloration? And if bright colors
made guppies more conspicuous to predators, why should males be colorful at all? To
find out, Endler formed a hypothesis based on his observations, and then set out to test
it. His results proved to be one of evolutionary biology’s most important discoveries.
GUPPY HABITAT TYPES
Guppies usually occupy the entire length of Trinidad’s Aripo River, and often so do
their predators, such as pike cichlids, blue acara, and rivulus. However, different
sections of the river offer unique environmental characteristics and pressures that may
influence the color variation seen in the guppies (see the table on the next page).
Teacher Resource 243 Pre-AP Biology
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 243 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
PERFORMANCE RIVER SECTION POPULATIONS
TASK
Deep Pool Pool Behind Natural Dam Shallow Pool
Description Deep section Pool formed by a low- Shallow area along
along the lying rock dam; the dam the waterway, where
waterway limits upstream movement only small fish can
of some of the largest live
predators
Population Guppies Guppies Guppies
A variety of Some predators (no Smallest and
predators large ones) least effective
predators
Predation High Moderate Low
Risk
SPECIES INFORMATION
Guppies collected during the experiment were classified into four color variants:
brightest, bright, drab, and drabbest. Endler was interested in studying whether the
pressures for mating and predation influenced the frequency of the color variations
found in different populations along the river. The table shown provides information
about the guppies Endler studied and their predators.
PREDATORS AND PREY IN ENDLER’S STUDY
Description Images
Common name: Pike cichlid
Scientific name: Crenicichla alta
Size: Up to 12 in. (approximately 30 cm)
Common name: Blue acara
Scientific name: Aequidens pulcher
Predators Size: Up to 7 in. (approximately 18 cm)
Common name: Rivulus
Scientific name: Rivulus hartii
Size: Up to 5 in. (approximately 12.5 cm)
Pre-AP Biology 244 Teacher Resource
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 244 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
PERFORMANCE
Common name: Guppy or millions fish TASK
Scientific name: Poecilia reticulata Brightest
Sex of individuals in study: Male
Size: 1.4 in. (approximately 3.5 cm)
Prey Color variations in population:
Brightest Drabbest
Bright
Drab
Drabbest
Text and data above are excerpted and adapted from “Sex and the Single Guppy.” © 2010 by PBS. http://
[Link]/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/low_bandwidth.html.
PART 1: ANALYZING DATA
The data sets shown are representative of findings from Endler’s research.
Examine the data and complete the tables and graphs.
Experimental Site 1 Information
River Site: Deep pool
Number and Type of Predators: 30 rivulus, 30 blue acara, 30 pike cichlid
Guppy Total Population: 210
Number of Generations: 10
Number of Weeks: 286
Data Collected Data Analysis
100%
Brightest Bright Drab Drabbest 90%
Percent of total population
80%
Number of
(relative frequency)
4 11 25 170 70%
Guppies 60%
Percent of 50%
40%
Population 2% 5% 30%
(rounded)
20%
10%
t
ht
t
es
es
ra
ig
ht
bb
D
Br
ig
ra
Br
Color
Teacher Resource 245 Pre-AP Biology
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 245 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
PERFORMANCE
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
TASK
1. Which type of guppy is most successful in this environment?
2. Why do you think this is the case? What is the advantage of this common
phenotype in this environment?
Experimental Site 2 Information
River Site: Shallow pool
Number and Type of Predators: 30 rivulus
Guppy Total Population: 236
Number of Generations: 10
Number of Weeks: 265
Data Collected Data Analysis
100%
Brightest Bright Drab Drabbest 90%
Percent of total population
80%
Number of
(relative frequency)
204 18 5 9 70%
Guppies 60%
Percent of 50%
40%
Population
30%
(rounded)
20%
10%
t
ht
t
es
es
ra
ig
ht
bb
D
Br
ig
ra
Br
Color
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Which type of guppy is most successful in this environment?
2. Why do you think this is the case? What is the advantage of this common
phenotype in this environment?
Pre-AP Biology 246 Teacher Resource
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 246 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
3. How does this result differ from Site 1? If the results are different, provide some PERFORMANCE
TASK
reasoning as to why.
Experimental Site 3 Information
River Site: Pool behind natural dam
Number and Type of Predators: 30 pike cichlid, 30 blue acara
Guppy Total Population: 218
Number of Generations: 9
Number of Weeks: 220
Data Collected Data Analysis
100%
Brightest Bright Drab Drabbest 90%
Percent of total population
80%
Number of
(relative frequency)
2 98 111 7 70%
Guppies 60%
Percent of 50%
40%
Population
30%
(rounded)
20%
10%
t
ht
t
es
es
ra
ig
ht
bb
D
Br
ig
ra
Br
D
Color
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Which type of guppy is most successful in this environment?
2. Why do you think this is the case? What is the advantage of this common
phenotype in this environment?
Teacher Resource 247 Pre-AP Biology
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 247 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
PERFORMANCE 3. How does this result differ from Sites 1 and 2? If the results are different, provide
TASK
some reasoning as to why.
PART 2: DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
1. For each of the three experimental sites, examine the number of weeks that the
study lasted. Explain why you think Endler waited this length of time to collect
data. Use one or more of the data sets to help illustrate your explanation.
2. Endler also noticed that even the colors in the drabbest male guppies varied from
one another in different areas of the river.
(a) What could be a cause for this difference in coloration?
(b) If a drabbest male was moved from one area of the river to a new area, how
might the selective pressures change the guppy’s fitness?
3. Analyze the two claims made on the next page. For each one, decide whether the
information provided in the reading and data sets supports or refutes that claim.
Then provide evidence and reasoning to support your decision.
Pre-AP Biology 248 Teacher Resource
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 248 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
Claim 1: When very few predators are present, the most fit color variation is the PERFORMANCE
TASK
drabbest male.
Support or Refute?
Evidence
Reasoning
(from reading and/or data sets)
Claim 2: When many predators are present, the most fit color variation is the
drabbest male.
Support or Refute?
Evidence
Reasoning
(from reading and/or data sets)
Teacher Resource 249 Pre-AP Biology
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 249 13/04/20 9:53 PM
Performance Task: The Flashy Guppy Data Analysis
Unit 2: Evolution
PERFORMANCE 4. Using the background information and data sets, craft another claim about what
TASK
occurs when there are moderate numbers of predators in the environment. Be
sure to support your claim by using the evidence provided. Justify your claim and
evidence with reasoning about natural selection principles.
Claim:
Evidence
Reasoning
(from reading and/or data sets)
5. Conclusion: Make a claim about whether natural selection is acting on the color
variations in guppies. Use evidence from the background reading and data sets
and reasoning to support your claim. If there is a line of evidence that is missing
but necessary for your claim to be supported, identify it.
Pre-AP Biology 250 Teacher Resource
© 2021 College Board
BIO_U2_TR.indd 250 13/04/20 9:53 PM