1

A HANDS-ON SIMULATION OF NATURAL SELECTION AND ADAPTATION

WITHIN A POPULATION OF AN IMAGINARY ORGANISM, MACARONICUS
NOODLESIA, USING PREDATION AS A SELECTIVE FACTOR
Gredonia, Clea Marie 1Ramirez, Veyari L. and 1Roxas, Rositte

Department of Biology, Bicol University College of Science Legazpi

City
4500 Albay, Philippines

ABSTRACT
Natural selection and adaptation have always been a
part of the evolution of organisms. The simulation
activity aimed to fully understand the natural
selection process and adaptation concept. This had
been done by preparing two sets of simulated
environments in which a population of an imaginary
organism, Macaronicus noodlesia, must thrive in.
Predation was simulated to occur in both the
environments.
Results
showed
that
a
lot
of
individuals have survived predation in the grassy
environment (at 191 individuals) than in the rocky
environment (at 140 individuals). This is due to the
fact that the grasses could serve as a temporary
haven for the Macaronicus noodlesia at the onset of
predation. It was also found out that the grassy
environment would likely exhibit a significant
change in the gene frequency in the coming future
but not the rocky environment. This could be due to
the fact that the grassy environment favored much of
the green individuals to the point that the other
two would soon be eradicated from the environment
due to predation. As for the rocky environment,
although the result showed that it favored the
normal ones, we cant deny the fact that since all
the
individuals
cannot
blend
in
with
the
environment
then
their
chances
of
surviving
predation are equal.
Keywords: Macaronicus noodlesia, Natural selection,
Adaptation
INTRODUCTION
Natural selection and adaptation go hand in hand over the
course of evolution through attempting to produce a viable

organism

in

specific

population

that

can

survive

and

reproduce within a dynamic environment. These two differ in

such

way

that

natural

specific

traits

of

abundant

within

selection

certain

is

organism

population,

as

the

process

become

wherein

more

consequence

or
of

less
their

effects on survival and reproduction (Racimo et. al. 2016).

Adaptation, on the other hand, is the characteristic feature
of

an

organism

that

aids

and

substantially

improves

its

survival and reproduction (Vold et. al., 2008).

In

the

interplay

of

organisms

and

their

environment,

there shall always be forces that may affect the likelihood of

an

organisms

survival,

thereby,

the

concepts

of

natural

selection and adaptation come into view. These forces could

either

be

naturally-occurring

such

as

predation

or

man-

inflicted such as deforestation that could destroy the habitat

of different species. Different factors such as predation,
temperature,
oxygen,

amount

carbon

of

dioxide

light
and

and

availability

nutrients

could

also

of

water,

affect

species means of survival. As given as an example by Larson

(2014) relating an organism to its abiotic environment, daisy
plants need light energy from the sun to make their own food
using photosynthesis. Therefore more daisies will be found
where there is plenty of available light, rather than in shady
places.
Forces and factors aforementioned have impacts on the
survival of organisms. But to survive, they must adapt and

through evolution, which could take a very long time to become

on point, this is likely. Thus, satisfying the concept of
natural

selection,

the

survival

of

the

fittest.

These

organisms with adaptive traits will later on reproduce and

prosper.
In the simulation of adaptation and natural selection,
distinguishing between heritable and non-heritable traits of
individuals within a population and understanding the concepts
of natural selection and adaptation are sought thereby are the
main objectives of the activity. It is hypothesized that if
the Macaronicus noodlesia has a color that could blend in the
environment where it dwells then its chances of surviving is
really high (e.g. the individuals harboring the green allele
are capable of blending within the grassy environment reducing
the chances of predators to spot them easily).

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Preparation of materials
The

students

obtained

different

colored

raw

macaroni

noodles (Macaronicus noodlesia) from the market. Three colors

were used, red, green and normal. Each color consists of 100
individuals and all 300 of them were mixed in a container. Two
sets of these populations were prepared.
Parameters used for the simulation
Table
focus

in

summarizes

the

accomplishing

the

parameters
objectives

that
of

were
the

put

into

simulation

activity. The two simulated environments that were utilized

were 50 square meters of grassy and rocky plots (See Figure
1). Within these environments the polymorphic trait that was
under the selective force was the body color of the imaginary
organism, Macaronicus noodlesia. These polymorphic trait are
controlled by the alleles cG for the green body color, cR for
the red and C for the normal.

Kind of
Environment
Polymorphic
Trait under
selection
Alleles

Table 1.

SIMULATION
Grassy
Rocky
Environment
Environment
Body Color
Body Color
Green (cG)
Red
(cR)
Normal (c)

The parameters used in the simulation activity.

A
Figure

Green (cG)
Red
(cR)
Normal (c)

1.

The

simulated

environments

that

were

utilized

in

the

activity. A lot in the pool area of Bicol University main campus was
employed for the A.) rocky environment while the B.) Commencement
Ground was used for the grassy environment.

Experimental proper

The

contents

of

one

container

were

scattered

in

the

grassy area and the other container were scattered in the

sandy or rocky area. The emptied container was placed in the
center of the area, which served as the catching ground.
Four students were assigned to collect the dispersed noodles
one at a time and deposited it in the container. Each student
was given two minutes to collect the noodle population and
other student monitored the time.
The

caught

individuals

were

brought

back

to

the

laboratory and only undamaged and slightly damaged noodles

were counted. Proportions of the variously colored individuals
were calculated and were compared with the initial population
composition.
Statistical treatment
The significant change in the gene frequency in the gene
pool of the future population of Macaronicus noodlesia was
computed using Chi-square test:

The subscript c are the degrees of freedom. O is

observed value and E is your expected value.

RESULTS
In

the

comparison

of

the

resulting

survivors

of

predation from the two different kinds of environments (See

Figure 2), it is evident to say that a lot of individuals have

survived

predation

individuals)

than

in
in

the
the

grassy
rocky

environment

(at

environment

191

(at

140

individuals). This is due to the fact that the grasses could

serve as a temporary haven for the Macaronicus noodlesia.
250
200
150
100
50
0

Grassy

Rocky

Figure 2. Final
Environments.

Both

the

prey

survived

environments

in

the

contained

the

Grassy

and

Rocky

individuals

with

alleles C (for normal), cR (for Red) and cG (for Green). At the

onset

of

predation

in

the

grassy

environment,

the

green

individuals prospered since out of the 100 individuals only 20

were

preyed

upon

by

predators.

Unfortunately

for

the

red

individuals, out of the 100 individuals 58 were caught and

died. As for the normal ones 31 out of 100 individuals were

caught. Within the rocky environment, on the other hand, the

normal individuals somewhat prospered having only 44 out of
100

individuals

caught

by

predators

followed

by

the

red

individuals at 57 out of 100 then by the green ones at 59 out

of 100.
Figure 3 shows the comparison of the final proportion of
the surviving prey that remained in the grassy (See Figure
3A) and rocky (See Figure 3B) environments. Aforementioned
were the resulting number of individuals that were caught and
did not survive and from which Figure 3 was based upon. The
grassy environment favored the individuals harboring the green
allele (cG) more than the remaining two. Forty-two percent
(42%)

of

the

surviving

individuals

were

green,

36%

were

orange while 22% were red. Evidently, the red individuals were
least

favored

in

the

green

environment

since

only

22%

survived the predation. As for the rocky environment, the

normal-alleled individuals (C) were more favored, comprising
the 40% of the surviving individuals. Thirty-one percent
(31%) were red-alleled individuals while only 29% were green.
As opposed to the result in the grassy environment, the green-

29%
40%

31%

Green

alleled

individuals

36%

Red

Normal

were

42%

22%

Green

Red

Normal

the least favored in the rocky

environment.

Figure 3. Resulting final proportion of the normal, green and red

survivors in the A) grassy environment & B) rocky environment.

In the grassy environment, using chi-square test it was

found out that the change in the gene frequency in the gene
pool

of

future

population

of

Macaronicus

noodlesia

is

statistically significant( = 11.95, p<0.01). But as for the

rocky environment it was not ( = 2.84, p<0.01).

DISCUSSION
It was expected that natural selection would favor the
organisms
their

that

blend

environment

polymorphic

trait

in

more
in

or

camouflage

than
focus

those
is

(Miller,

that

the

body

do

not

color.

1999)
since

with
the

Evolution

evidently occurred in the population of Macaronicus noodlesia

by the obvious fact that from the normal body color of the
organism

carrying

the

allele

it

evolved

or

preferably

mutated to two other kind of colors, the red individuals which

carry the cR allele and the green individuals carrying the c G
allele. Organisms that carry these traits are clearly capable
of passing them down to their offspring thus satisfying the
concept of natural selection that according to Darwin (1859)
is

the

preservation

of

favourable

variations

and

the

rejection of injurious variations. On the simulation of the

selective factor, predation, it was evident enough that the

10

green individuals prospered and had the highest fitness in the

grassy environment. And this is due to the fact that they
could blend in with their environment. Predators would usually
prey upon those that are on plain sight but since the green
individuals could blend in the grassy environment then those
that could not are the potential victims. These victims mostly
could either be the red or the normal ones, hence, less red
and normal individuals survived. The green ones that did not
survive possibly grazed on the wrong areas of the grassy
environment wherein they could not camouflage such as those
without grasses (e.g., soil areas). In relation to Darwins
natural selection, the favored green individuals would likely
be abundant in the grass environment as time progresses and
those which are not would be eradicated. The rocky environment
used in the simulation was black in color so it was expected
that

the

chances

of

predators

to

catch

each

variants

are

almost the same. This is so, because the body colors of each
variants (i.e., C, cR and CG) are contrasting with the open
environment.
survive

In

most

this
the

environment,

ill

effect

of

normal

individuals

predation,

thus

had

had
the

highest fitness, opposing the result of that in the grassy

environment.
The

resulting

individuals

with

the

highest

fitness

differed in the two simulated environments. Since, the normal

ones thrived more after predation in the rocky environment, we
could

assume

that

this

environment

was

the

original

11

environment wherein the Macaronicus noodlesia started to dwell

in before transferring to their new environment (i.e., the
green one). The mutant forms of the normal variants, the cR and
cG,

could

be

compared

further

to

whether

or

not

they

are

capable of aiding the organisms survival. Since the green

individuals, thrived and prospered in the green environment,
and the normal ones in the rocky environment then we could say
that the cG was a beneficial mutation while cR was not in terms
of

the

new

environment.

The

difference

in

the

resulting

individuals that prospered in the two environments was caused

mostly by selective factors that affects the survival and the
reproduction of the individuals (Smith, 1992). In this case,
the

selective

factor

that

affected

the

individual

is

predation. Predators could easily prey down on what they could

clearly see but if that individual can camouflage in their
environment then this would make it hard for them to see these
preys.
For

the

future

population

of

Macaronicus

noodlesia

thriving within the grassy environment, it would be expected

that there would be a statistically significant change in the
gene frequency in their gene pool. This may be due to the fact
that as time progresses, predators had eradicate the normal
and the red individuals and what would remain shall be the
green ones. But as for the ones in the rocky environment,
there would be no statistically significant change in the gene
frequency in their gene pool. This is because the chances of

12

the predator to catch each of the variant are almost the same
therefore in the coming future the three different variance
could

either

be

eradicated

or

could

live

together

assuming that no competition occurs amongst them).

(i.e.,

13

REFERENCES
Darwin, C. (1859). On the Origin of Species by Means of
Natural Selection. London: J. Murray.
Larson, S. (2014, September 15). Distribution of Animals.
Retrieved from BBC Science:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa
/organisms/distribution_of_organismsrev1.shtml
Miller, K. (1999, August 2). The Peppered Moth - An Update.
Retrieved from Brown University : Ken Miller's Evolution
Page:
http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/Moths/moths.html
Racimo, F., Schraiber, J., Casey, F., & Huerta-Sanchez, E.
(2016). Directional Selection and Adaptation.
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology, 444-452.
doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800049-6.00028-7
Smith, R. (1992). Elements of Ecology (3rd Edition ed.). New
York: Harper & Row.
Vold, T., & Buffett, D. (2008, February 13). Ecological
Conepts, Principles and Applications to Conservation.
Retrieved from Biodiversity BC:
http://www.biodiversitybc.org/assets/pressReleases/BBCPri
nciplesWEB.pdf