...The purpose of this experiment is to test the hypothesis that small bird’s physical characteristics can greatly impact their species population growth over time. Using the Finch as a test subject for multiple trial runs on a simulated computer system we can alter the characteristics of the finch and run diagnostics for two completely different locations and set of experiments. This simultaneous testing and comparison will either prove or disprove the hypothesis that small bird’s physical characteristics can greatly impact their population growth. The base line for this comparison will be two islands labeled island A and B with population A1 of finches on island A and a population of B1 finches on island B. There will be two time allotments used to factor in the population growth for each sets of populations on both islands: beginning with a 100 year scenario and then followed by a 200 year scenario. Using extended timelines will reflect accuracy in the initial 100 year reading and or show that physical characteristics of finch birds only impacts population growth for a specific time period. Each island A and B will be of the same size and offer the same vegetation amount and size. However, the physical characteristics of each population will be altered to population A1 with a beak length of 14 mm and population B1 with a beak length of 11 mm. Given the consistency and amount of controls, compared to the one and only variable being a major physical characteristic of the...
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...After analyzing the data presented by Peter and Rosemary Grant, I have come to familiarize myself with the data concerning the 100 medium ground finches born in 1973 and 1976. The excel file expresses 50 ground finches who did not survive, and 50 ground finches that did; while comparing their beak depth. Although there were some ground finches that had an adequately large beak depth, we can assume other weak physical factors were responsible for their death. The average beak of a 50 medium ground finches who died was 9.11mm, while those who survived had an average beak depth of 9.67mm. Part B 1. A) If you drew a line following the top of all the bar graphs you can see that the distribution expresses a wavy line. The tops of the horizontal bars construct curves if connected. B) The shapes of the two graphs emphasize that the distribution of beak depth measurements vary across the two groups of medium ground finches. In addition, the graphs show that there is a greater number of birds that have a beak depth relatively close to the calculated average. 2. While analyzing the distribution of beaks between the survivors and nonsurvivors, you can immediately see that the graphs express a similar curvy line if the tops of the horizontal bars were connected. Non-surviving ground finches had beaks that ranged from 7.5 mm to 11.25 mm. The most common beak depths were between 9.25 mm and 9.75mm. However, ground finches that survived had beak depths ranging from 8mm to 11.25, and the...
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...Evolution of Finches on Darwin and Wallace Islands INTRODUCTION The Evolution Lab simulates environmental situations to determine effects on evolution over periods of time. This lab experiments with the evolution of finches on two different islands over 100, 200, and 300 years. By manipulating parameters that influence natural selection, the effects that natural selection have on the evolution process can be studied. HYPOTHESES • The size of the island will influence the population. • The amount of precipitation will influence beak size. • The larger the clutch the higher the population over time MATERIALS The materials needed for this experiment consist of a computer and access to the Evolution Lab on the University of Phoenix student website. In the Evolution Lab there are two islands, Darwin Island and Wallace Island. There are seven variables that can be changed to run many different experiments on both islands. The variables are beak size, variance of beak size, heritability, clutch size, island size, population, and precipitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Evolution Lab provides many variables. The user can change the following: beak size, variance of beak size in the population, heritability of the mid parent beak size, clutch size, island size, population of the finches to start the experiment, and precipitation on the island as it affects the hardness of seeds.. All of the numerous combinations of variables, set for two different islands lends...
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...Other characters were Dr.Finch who is Deidre’s therapist which who later becomes augustens legal guardian. Neil Bookman, one of Dr Finches patient and also Augustens first lover who is much older then him. Also there is Natalie; she is one of Dr.Finch’s daughters. She and Augusten become best friends towards the end. Few other people in the book are Fern, Deidre’s first lover, Dorothy, Deidre’s second lover, and Hope the oldest daughter of Dr. Finch. This story takes place in Massachusetts, Augusten goes from living in a wonderful clean big home to living with the therapist in a rundown old Victorian home in Northampton, the house has no order what so ever, its far from being clean, Dr. Finch feels he doesn’t need to tell everyone living with him what they should do, which include his wife and children and a few of this patients. Augusten begins to live with the Finch family have the separation of his mother and father, she believes she well be unable to be good parent. He deals with many different things and learns a lot by leaving at the Finch residence. I’m not really sure how I felt about the book, it was interesting at points but I mainly read it because a friend told me I should and loaned me the book to read. There wasn’t just one part that hooked me to the book, the book was a roller coaster of event that he went there and had to deal with which made it interesting to...
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...because there was no competition for food. There was a surplus of food and there was enough for all the finches to eat enough and feed their babies. But, after a huge drought occured in 1977, the island’s ecosystem took a huge loss and there was close to no food left for the finches to survive. The amount of Chamaesyce plant went from having a population of 60 plants to 0 in the dry season of 1977. Then when all of the soft easy to digest plants were no longer available on the island, the only food left for the finches to eat were tribulus and cactus plants. But not all of the finches were able to eat this because some of their beaks simply just were not big enough to eat the tribulus seeds. In the field not of gf #69, it is observed that the finch who has...
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...traits were less fit and were unable to survive the environment. This was the beginning of the study of evolution and natural selection. “Evolution is the study of how modern organisms have descended from the earliest life-forms and of the genetic, structural, and functional modifications of a population that occur from generation to generation. The ability of a population of organisms to respond to change in their environment and survive and reproduce by developing the characteristics or modifications necessary for survival is known as adaptation.” (University of Phoenix, 2013) House Finches live in dry desert, grasslands, stream sides and open coniferous forests at elevations below 6,000 feet. They eat seeds, buds and fruits. (House Finch, n.d.) The purpose of the experiment is to test my hypothesis, “Precipitation does not cause natural selection to act upon beak size.” Materials To complete the experiment, I will need access to a computer and the Evolution Lab simulation at the University of Phoenix website. The Evolution Lab will allow me to simulate tests by changing the input values or parameters. The results should show the effect of natural selection, and how these changes may influence the beak sizes and population of the finches in the Darwin Island and Wallace Island over various time periods. Methods and Procedure In the Evolution Lab, there are different variables to test. The variables are beak...
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...child it has non-judgemental views. Therefore, because of the child narrator, and the other main characters being children, this shows that childhood in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’ is important and crucial. In the chapters 1 to 12, childhood is presented by friendship, gullibility, pride, questioning and fear. The fear element, is a major part through ‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’, because at different stages of the novel at least one of the main characters is scared. The Finch children first experience real friendship in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’, when they meet Charles Baker Harris – Dill. Before Dill has passed the ‘Jem test’, Dill boasts to Scout and Jem that he can read. Which was not usually common in Maycomb at the time, but Jem and Scout could both read, which meant that they thought Dill was showing off and they wouldn’t want to be friends with him. Also what makes Dill become an issue about friendship, is how he introduces himself. He recites his entire name, and makes fun of Jem’s name (Jeremy Atticus Finch), which therefore causes Jem to dislike him. However when Dill, tells about Dracula, he is accepted in Jem and Scout’s inner friendship circle. All of these actions the boasting, the story telling, and the unnecessary argument with Jem about their names represents Harper Lee’s idea about friendship and childhood in ‘‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’’’. All three of the...
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...Choose any 3 characters from the first half of the novel and discuss how they have a positive influence in Maycomb. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays a very distinct difference in the character that are “good” and those that are “bad” this often comes over in the way Scout or Atticus view a certain character. There are many positive influences in Maycomb and one of them is Calpurnia. Although Atticus does not see her as a motherly figure, I believe that she views herself as the womanly influence in their lives as she is loving towards the children, but often, can be strict and firm to teach them what is right or wrong. She has always been there for both children, especially Scout because they lost their mother early in their lives and because of this I feel that Scout and Jem do not Calpurnia as either black or white and this means that they respect her and love her a lot. An example of this is in Chapter twelve when Calpurnia is taking the children to church with her and she refers to them as “my children” and wants people to know that she looks after them. She also makes sure that they are clean before church however, this is partly showing self interest as she wants to be seen as motherly towards the children and if they look nice, it will reflect well on her peers. Another example of Calpurnia showing her love for the children is when there is a “mad dog” and she tells them to go inside because she is worried about them and wants them to be safe. Calpurnia...
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...Jean Louise “Scout” Finch - The narrator and protagonist of the story. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Scout has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in her community. As the novel progresses, this faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson’s trial. Scout eventually develops a more grown-up perspective that enables her to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil. Atticus Finch - Scout and Jem’s father, a lawyer in Maycomb descended from an old local family. A widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in his children his strong sense of morality and justice. He is one of the few residents of Maycomb committed to racial equality. When he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man charged with raping a white woman, he exposes himself and his family to the anger of the white community. With his strongly held convictions, wisdom, and empathy, Atticus functions as the novel’s moral backbone. Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch - Scout’s brother and constant playmate at the beginning of the story. Jem is something of a typical American boy, refusing to back down from dares and fantasizing about playing football. Four years older than Scout, he gradually separates himself from her games, but he remains her close companion and protector throughout the novel. Jem...
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...‘Explore how Harper Lee describes the character of Miss Maudie’ The first time Harper Lee introduces Miss Maudie to the reader, Scout says that she spent the rest of her remaining twilights with her. This at once shows us that Miss Maudie isn’t like most adults in the book, who treat Scout like a child, because she is one whom Scout likes to be with and talk to. ‘I spent most of the remaining twilights that summer sitting with Miss Maudie.’ This shows us that Scout, who is quite an adventures child, is very comfortable with Miss Maudie, and Miss Maudie instead of treating Scout like a child treats her more like a friend. She is given off as an auntie figure to the children and it is shown within the book that she is very fond of them as they are of her. Harper Lee shows through a metaphor that Miss Maudie is very adaptable to her surroundings. ‘A chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and men’s coveralls, but after her five o’clock bath she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in her magisterial beauty.’ The word ‘magisterial’ Harper Lee uses to describe Miss Maudie once changed from her worker appearance to her more feminine appearance makes me think of how royal she would have looked and how the sudden change would appear to everyone else within the town who saw her. Miss Maudie takes pride in the appearance of her garden as well and it seems to me that because she has no children she treats her plants like children by devoting...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age novel that is set in the early 1930s in a small and sleepy Southern town called Maycomb. It was written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. The novel deals with childhood innocence and the conflict between good and evil in many different situations. Throughout the novel, the reader follows the childhood of a young girl called Jean Louise "Scout" Finch who lived with her family that included her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia. Scout is the narrator and the protagonist of the novel and the reader is able to perceive, through her narration, a child's perspective of the world and the prejudice that exists within it. One of the themes that is prominent in the novel is black racism. The writer made that notable through the lifestyle of Maycomb, its citizens' notions and the case of Tom Robinson. These cases helped to shape Scout's opinion of the real world and her understanding of the dark and cruel sides of it. The theme also plays an important role in understanding and analyzing the novel as a whole. As the novel is a depiction of the writer's childhood, it elaborates to the reader the various aspects of real life in the United States of America during the 1930s and helps them get a view of the racial discrimination that shaped the American society at that time. That...
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... one consistent theme is based around how Atticus Finch positively impacted the town of Maycomb. The location was Alabama during the 1930’s. During this time period, citizens of Maycomb showed extreme chauvinism towards one another. For people to not give into this way of life truly must have been very audacious. One person that proved to be able to show such audacious acts was a man named Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch willingly defended an African American which in the time period was perceived as very taboo. Out of all the characters in the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper lee a man named Atticus Finch proved to have the most courage and by the end of the book the most moral growth. The fact that he went against the normal way of life in his town, and willingly defend an African american by...
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...Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a modern-day hero for his intolerance towards racism, especially in that time period. His disapproval towards racism is most apparent when he fought for Tom Robinson. Fighting for an African-American man in the 1930’s was unspeakable but not only did he defend him, he gave it all he had. Atticus knew he would never be able to win this case yet he still tried which is more than any other white lawyer would have done for anyone in the black community. Atticus even has a reputation for being the same in courtrooms as in the streets as opposed to the only other lawyer in the book, Mr. Gilmer. As Atticus states, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for...
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...“Prejudice is the child of ignorance” (William Hazlitt). Throughout the book To Kill a Mockingbird people judge others before they truly have a right to judge. In the town of Maycomb, Alabama many individuals make judgements about Boo Radley and Tom Robinson before they know the truth. Scout Finch is a rare breed in this time, with her father defending Tom Robinson and her brother Jem and her interested in finding more about Boo Radley she constantly gets a chance to make unprejudiced judgements on people. Harper Lee helps the reader better understand prejudice using symbolism , imagery, and metaphors throughout the story. Prejudice was common throughout the story To Kill a Mockingbird, this could be seen through symbolism. It is a sin to kill a mockingbird, this is explained when Miss Maudie says “they don’t do one thing...
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...Near the beginning Atticus had asked Heck Tate what side the bruises were on Mayella’s face. Heck Tate responded with "Oh yes, that'd make it her right. It was her right eye, Mr. Finch. I remember now, she was bunged up on that side of her face...." (Lee). This was a key part of the trial because shortly after this Atticus called Tom Robinson up to the stand and Tom could barely put his left hand on the bible. One of the first questions that Atticus asked Tom was what happened to his left arm. Tom’s response was "I got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond's cotton gin when I was a boy, it tore all the muscles loose from my bones" (Lee 186). This should have shown the jury that it would have been very hard for Tom to have hit Mayella on the right side of the face because his left arm was destroyed. Even though there was clear evidence that Tom Robinson did not commit the crime, the jury still charged...
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