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Claymander Field Experiment

Author(s): Alexa Warwick1, Louise Mead2, M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid3, Evan Grant4, Chris Sutherland5, Arianna Wills5, Emma Perry3

1. Michigan State University 2. BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action 3. Bridgewater State University 4. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 5. University of Massachusetts-Amherst

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Summary:
This activity addresses how predation may affect the frequency of two color morphs in a population. Students collect and analyze data from clay salamander models ('claymanders') to determine whether there is a difference in predation rates.

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Version 1.0 - published on 01 Mar 2018 doi:10.25334/Q46Q4Z - cite this

Description

Students will set up transects with clay models of the two color morphs (striped, lead) and monitor them daily to record predation events over the course of two weeks. The goal of the study is to test whether the two morphs experience differential ‘survival’ as a result of predation. Data will be aggregated and analyzed across all transects. Discussion of the data should also address experimental design and any issues that may have arose during data collection.

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