Hi guys!
Here is some information about the Evolution Web Project we will be working on this week.
You can download the instructions for the Project here: Evolution Web Project
And, for handy reference, here are the websites we will be using for the Project.
How does evolution really work?
Evolution: Darwin: An Origin of Species (from PBS’ NOVA)
Tigons and ligers
All in the Family
Tree of Life web project
2 responses so far ↓
1
rorofosho
// Jan 24, 2007 at 12:38 pm
2. Go to the Darwin: An Origin of Species page
a. Go through the activity to learn about the factors that influence the
evolution of the pollenpeepers.
Answer the following questions:
i. Look at the “Map of pollenpeeper homes. Click through each period of time
and look at the changes to each of the homes. Which home do you think had
the biggest changes and why?
ii. Pick one of the homes (Mainland, Windsor Island, Norcross Island, and
Warwick Archipelago). Look over the changes to that home over time. Pick
two of the factors (Competition, Habitat, Food, and Predators) and talk about
how they have changed over time.
What effects do you think these changes
have had on the evolution of the pollenpeepers that live there? Why do you
think so?
iii. Go through the Gallery and see what has happened to each of the species
listed there (Hawaiian fruit flies, Hawaiian Silverswords, Galapagos finches,
Tenrecs of Madagascar, and Lemurs of Madagascar).
Answer the following questions:
Q. How could you tell that each of these species had a common ancestor?
A. I believe that each of the lemur species had a common ancestor because they all have many things in common. Some things they all have in common are…
- Each organism’s eyes have a ring around it.
Q. Pick one of 5 organisms.
What kinds of changes do you see between the various species?
Q. What do you think caused those changes?
Q. How do you think that these changes are related to changes in conditions of
their environment?
2
twinkletoes
// Jan 26, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Name_______________________________________________
Mr. Ardito’s Living Environment
Evolution Project – January 2007
Web links for evolution project
How does evolution really work?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/11/2/e_s_4.html
Evolution: Darwin: An Origin of Species (from PBS’ NOVA)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/darwin/origin/index.html
Tigons and ligers
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/05/2/l_052_02.html
All in the Family
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/change/family/
Tree of Life web project
http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html
Instructions:
1. Go the page “How does evolution really work” and watch the video there.
Watch it more than once if you need to.
Answer the following questions:
a. What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process that allows certain organisms that have that trait to survive, while the ones without it eventually die off.
b. How do Chris Schneider and his colleagues try to demonstrate evolution in the birds?
They go to their natural homes, and watch them. Then they observe what they do, measure their attributes, and just watch how the hummingbirds live.
c. What are the 4 processes that make up natural selection?
The four processes that make up natural selection are genetic variation, overproduction of offspring, struggle for existence, and differential survival.
d. How does the birds’ bill length affect their survival?
Because they compete for nectar, a longer bill will allow them to reach the flower at a farther distance. A longer bill helps hummingbirds a lot. Just a small length is a big change.
Eventually there will only be birds with long bills.
e. How does competition work with hummingbirds according to the video?
Hummingbirds compete for nectar, which is their main diet.
f. Why do you think the scientist says that natural selection is the most important force in evolution?
The scientist says that natural selection is the most force because since only the birds with the longer bills survive and reproduce, only those who have that will live and reproduce, while others will die out. When there are animals with the best traits, they will reproduce, eventually causing that entire species to have that trait.
2. Go to the Darwin: An Origin of Species page
a. Go through the activity to learn about the factors that influence the evolution of the pollenpeepers.
Answer the following questions:
i. Look at the “Map of pollenpeeper homes. Click through each period of time and look at the changes to each of the homes. Which home do you think hadthe biggest changes and why?
The biggest changes in the habitats are between 3 mya and 2 mya, when the habitat becomes more lush and the foods change. Another change is from 1mya to the present time, when another island appears on the Warwick Archipelago islands.
ii. Pick one of the homes (Mainland, Windsor Island, Norcross Island, and Warwick Archipelago). Look over the changes to that home over time. Pick two of the factors (Competition, Habitat, Food, and Predators) and talk about how they have changed over time.
In the Windsor Island, two new finch species arrive, which causes competition between them. Also, by the present time, blunt beaks became obsolete, which indicates that the pollenpeepers need to get into things for their food and necessities.
What effects do you think these changes have had on the evolution of the pollenpeepers that live there? Why do you think so?
Because they needed a sharp beak, they evolved to have a sharp beak, because only the pollenpeepers that had that trait had best chance for survival and could eventually reproduce.
b. Go through the Gallery and see what has happened to each of the species listed there (Hawaiian fruit flies, Hawaiian Silverswords, Galapagos finches, Tenrecs of Madagascar, and Lemurs of Madagascar).
Answer the following questions:
How could you tell that each of these species had a common ancestor?
I think they had a common ancestor because they all had the same features and all looked somewhat alike. For example, all of the Lemurs of Madagascar looked like they shared a common ancestor, because they all had circular and alert eyes, and even though all of their coats were different, they still all showed a similarity.
Pick one of 5 organisms.
What kinds of changes do you see between the various species?
Galapagos finches:
While they all have a downward turned beak, their colors of feathers change and their size ranges from about the size of a crow to the size of a sparrow. Also, some of the finches look more aggressive than others.
What do you think caused those changes?
What I think caused these changes are: who their predators are, who their prey are, their environment (the colors to blend into), and the weather that is normal there.
How do you think that these changes are related to changes in conditions of their environment?
Because animals need to evolve according to how their environment changes, when the places where they live change, the animals there need to too.
3. Go to web page for Tigons and ligers. Read the article there and answer the following questions:
a. Why don’t we see tigons and ligers much in nature?
We don’t see tigons and ligers so much in nature because they are bred from two different species first of all, a lion and a tiger, and are bred in captivity. But when they are produced, they are usually short-lived and sterile.
b. What does this tell us about survival of the fittest?
4. Go to the web page for All in the Family.
Try to see which of the first set of animals are related, and follow the instructions that you find there. Be sure to go through the “Tools” section at the bottom of the section. This will give you a chance to see how the various species are related.
Answer the following questions:
a. How can structural similarities and differences help us to see how species might be related?
b. What similarities are there between the dolphin and the wolf?
Now, try to build at least one more “tree” and look at the structural
similarities and differences.
Answer the following questions:
a. What do these similarities and differences tell you about this group of animals?
b. Based on the information you got from the “Tools” section, how can you tell if two of the animals had common ancestors?
5. Extra Credit
Visit the Tree of Life Project web site.
Look up two species you think are related. These can be any two species that interest you. Write a short report (about 1 page) describing how they are the same or different and what that information might tell you about their evolution.
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