Introduction

Extinction is an evolutionary fact of life.

The best current estimates are that 500 million species have existed on Earth and 410 to 490 million of them have gone extinct. This works out to an average of about 1 species every 1,000 years which is considered the "natural" rate of extinction.

Today many people are concerned about the current extinction rate, estimated to be as high as dozens of species EVERY DAY. We will investigate some factors that contribute to this increased extinction rate next week (Lab 8).

In this lab we will play the board game Extinction. It is designed to both entertain and to illustrate certain principles of ecology. The game deals with some of the key processes by which species survive and evolve, or become extinct. It includes interactions among different species, between species and abiotic (nonliving) factors and the impact humans can have on the environment.

The game consists of several species of make believe animals competing ecologically on the imaginary island of Darwinia. Each player is one species. Winning Extinction requires your species to be the most abundant when the game ends.

You try to determine the best strategy for your species to succeed. You will know certain of your own genetic characteristics and have a limited knowledge of your competitor's characteristics. You will have opportunities to reproduce, move about the island and compete or prey upon your neighbors. There is a random component of this game (a spinner) that may help or hinder your strategy.

Additionally your life will be made more difficult by the actions of humans. Humans build cities, burn forests and pollute lakes. These actions may harm your species or may help you by harming your competition.

Points for the lab will be earned from a pre-lab quiz, lab activity and a post-lab quiz.

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Click here to go to the short rules.

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