FIELD RESEARCH NOTEBOOK

TASK -- Part 1: THE PAMAMMAL NICHE

You discovered a new mammal in Central Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, PA. You named the

organism, Pamammal.
Harrisburg, PA, is located in what type of biome? __________________________________ 1.
Complete the chart below indicating five biotic and abiotic factors of the Pamammals
biome:
Table 1: Characteristic Biotic and Abiotic Factors of the Pamammals Biome
Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors
1. 1.
2.
2.
3. 3.
4.
4.
5. 5.
2.
Name:
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3. A sample of the stomach contents was taken from the Pamammal. The sample was found
to contain partially digested grass, acorns, and grasshoppers. Would you identify this species as
a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore?
4. Explain the reason for your answer to question #3.
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Given your knowledge of the Pamammal biome, identify other members of their community
that would be classified into the following trophic levels. Please include the following and
record your responses in the table below.
Five producers
Five primary consumers
Four secondary consumers
Two tertiary consumers
One decomposer
Table 2
Trophic Level Organism 1 Organism 2 Organism 3 Organism 4 Organism 5
Producers
Primary
Consumers
Secondary
Consumers
Tertiary
Consumers
Decomposer
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6. Draw a food web that includes the Pamammal, 3 producers, 3 primary consumer, 2
secondary consumer, 1 tertiary consumer, and a decomposer.
Monitor Checkpoint #1: _____
7. Select 2 biotic and 2 abiotic factors identified in Table 1 (See question 2.) and explain how each factor
may limit the population of Pamammals.
Table 3
Factor Explanation
Biotic 1.
2.
Abiotic 1.
2.
8. Two Patigers escape from a local zoo. They reproduce rapidly, and their new favorite food is
Pamammals.
Using the data in Table 4, create a graph that displays the population numbers of Patigers and
Pamammals over a ten-year period. {You may choose to use excel or a similar program.}
NOTE: This graph should be included in your electronic presentation!!
Using the graph you constructed, analyze the pattern in the populations between Patigers and
Pamammals. Be sure to include an explanation of the population data in 2016-2017.
Table 4
Year Patigers Pamammals
2012 50 5000
2013 60 4700
2014 80 4000
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2015 120 2000
2016 125 500
2017 20 200
2018 20 250
2019 30 280
2020 50 850
2021 70 2500
Monitor Checkpoint #2: _____
TASK PART 2: PAMAMMAL GENETICS: Evidence of a New Species
You have taken skin samples from the Pamammal and viewed them under the microscope. Below is an
image of what one cell looks like.
9. Based on this image, how many different chromosome pairs does a Pamammal have? ____
10. If you were to view an egg or sperm cell from a Pamammal, how many chromosomes
would it have? _________________
11. If the skin cell above were going through a nuclear division,
* Would this nuclear division process be Mitosis or Meiosis? _________________
* How many chromosomes would you expect to see in the nucleus of the new cells that are
formed? _______________
12. In Pamammals fur color is an inherited trait controlled by one pair of alleles where one
form is clearly dominant over the other form. Pamammals have either Brown or Grey fur color.
Two brown Pamammals mate and produce 12 offspring. Three (25%) of the offspring produced
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are grey and nine (75%) are brown. Based on this data, determine which trait is dominant and
which trait is recessive.
Dominant Fur Color = _________________ Letter symbol for this allele = ________________
Recessive Fur Color = __________________ Letter symbol for this allele = ________________
13. Use a Punnett Square below to show the genotypes of the parents that would produce the
given offspring.
PHENOTYPES FOR THE PARENTS: ___________ AND ____________
GENOTYPES FOR THE PARENTS: ___________ AND _____________
14. Below is a DNA Sequence of the Pamammal gene that codes for fur color. Based on the
DNA sequence, transcribe the RNA sequence. Next, use the RNA sequence and one of the two
tables provided to translate the amino acid sequence.
PAMAMMAL - DNA, RNA, AND AMINO ACID SEQUENCE:
DNA: TTA TAC CGG CCT AGT AAA ATG CAC
RNA: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
AMINO
ACID : ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
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Table 5 Table 6
NOTE: Either table given may be used to determine the amino acid. Choose the one with which
you are the most familiar. You may either record the full name or the first three letters of the
name shown in the tables. (For example: Lysine or Lys would be acceptable.)
15. Repeat the procedure used in question 14 for 3 additional organisms: Coyote, Deer, and
Beaver. Remember to use Tables 5 and/or 6 to translate your amino acid sequence.
COYOTE - DNA, RNA, AND AMINO ACID SEQUENCE:
DNA: TTA TAC CGG GTA AGT CCC ATG GAC
RNA: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
AMINO
ACID: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
DEER - DNA, RNA, AND AMINO ACID SEQUENCE:
DNA: TTA TAC CAA GAT ATA GGG ATG GAC
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RNA: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
AMINO
ACID: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
BEAVER - DNA, RNA, AND AMINO ACID SEQUENCE:
DNA: TTA TAC CGG CCT AGT TTT ATG GAC
RNA: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
AMINO
ACID: ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ _________ ________ ________
16. A new fur color appears in the Pamammal population. This new form of the trait was
caused by a random mutation that occurred during meiosis. This mutation causes the fur to
appear white instead of brown or grey.
The mutated DNA sequence for white fur is as follows: TTA TAC CGG GCT AGT AAA ATG CAC.
Using the mutated DNA sequence, determine the trascribed RNA sequence. Next, use the RNA
sequence and one of the two tables provided above to translate the amino acid sequence
just like you did in the previous activity
PAMAMMAL MUTATED DNA SEQUENCE FOR WHITE FUR COLOR
Mutated DNA: TTA TAC CGG GCT AGT AAA ATG CAC
RNA: _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______
AMINO
ACIDS: _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ ________ _______ _______
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17. Using the information below, what type of mutation occurred? ___________________
Original Pamammal DNA: TTA TAC CGG CCT AGT AAA ATG CAC
Mutated Pammmal DNA: TTA TAC CGG GCT AGT AAA ATG CAC
(Hint: Look at the amino acid sequences you translated for the original and mutated Pamammals. Even
one amino acid substitution can result in a different phenotype.)
Monitor Checkpoint #3: _____
TASK PART 3: PAMAMMAL EVOLUTION: Evidence of a New Species
18. Remember that the Pamammals native biome is the Temperate Deciduous Forest. Explain
whether the mutation for white fur color could be an advantage or disadvantage in this
environment and explain why you believe so.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Below is a graph that represents the current allele frequencies for the Pamammal
population living in the Temperate Deciduous Forest.
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If the winter season in the Temperate Deciduous forest is extended from a 3-month period to a
9-month period of time, predict how natural selection could impact the change in the allele
frequencies for fur color of this population after many years. Explain the basis for your
prediction AND create a graph to represent what your new allele frequencies may be. NOTE:
The graph above and your newly created graph should be included in your presentation.
20. After speaking with other scientists, a hypothesis was developed which states that the Pamammal is
closely related to another Pennsylvania mammal species and has evolved to live a more terrestrial
life than its closest relative. (Note: Terrestrial = land, Aquatic = water)
Read the physical descriptions of all of the organisms listed below, view the paw prints, and revisit
the amino acid sequences you created in the previous activity.
Organism Length Weight Physical Description Paw Prints Amino Acid
Sequence (Complete
from Question #14 and #15.)
Pamammal 12-15 in
36-45 cm
5-8 lbs
2-4 kg
Large flat tail; thick fluffy
fur that may be brown or
grey; large claws; teeth
that continuously grow;
A
L
L
E
L
E


F
R
E
Q
U
E
N
C
Y

(
%
)

Fur Color
Create or insert your new graph here.
brown
grey white
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teeth designed for
gnawing
Coyote 30-40 in
70-130
cm
20-45
lbs
8-20 kg
coat color white, grey,
brown, or a mixture; Long
furry tail; dentations
(teeth) similar to a dog
with long canine teeth;
teeth designed for ripping
and tearing; all four paws
are the same size with
small claws
White Tail
Deer
3.5 ft tall
1-1.5 m
100-250
lbs
60-100
kg
simple brown coloration
with white underbelly;
small brown tail with a
white underside and
white fluffy end; has
hooves instead of paws;
dew claw present; teeth
and jaw are designed for
grinding
Beaver 24-50 in
60-110
cm
20-60
lbs 12-
27 kg
large flat tail; brown
coarse hair that is water
proof; teeth that grow
continuously; long claws
21. After reviewing the data in the above chart, determine the Pamammals closest relative.
Closest Relative = __________________________________________________________
Cite evidence why you think the organism you chose is the closest relative.
_________________________________________________________________________
22. What are four differences between the Pamammal and its closest relative and how might each
difference stated be an advantage for living on land?
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Differences Advantage for Living on Land
1.
2.
3.
4.
Monitor Checkpoint #4: _____
Table 7