Scientific Writing
Read the two attached documents, then answer the following questions in essay format: 1) In the introduction, Endler (1980) refers to a pervious field study he conducted (Endler, 1978) in which he documented a relationship between guppy coloration and the presence or absence of certain predators. What was this relationship? 2)What was Endlers hypothesis for why this relationship was present in wild populations of guppies? 3) Explain the basic design of Endlers greenhouse experiments. What was the prediction that would support Endlers hypothesis in the greenhouse experiments? 4)Explain how the results of the greenhouse experiments supported or rejected the initial hypothesis. 5) Why was it necessary to perform experiments (greenhouse and field) rather than just observe the patterns in nature? 6) Why was it necessary to perform field experiments in addition to the greenhouse experiments? Very briefly describe the basis of the field experiments. 7) What were the results of transferring guppies from a high predation environment to a low predation environment? Do these results support the results of the greenhouse experiments? 8) Based on the results of the previous field study, greenhouse experiments, and the field experiment, how do natural selection and sexual selection affect coloration in guppies?
