Evolution Exploration Activity

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Answer the questions below, save this file as a .docx, and upload this file to the correct Exploration Activity
submission location.

https://ed.ted.com/on/BwHC69Lx

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/natural-selection/natural-selection-ap/v/biodiversity-and-natural-selection-two

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/natural-selection/natural-selection-ap/a/darwin-evolution-natural-selection

Introduction to Environmental Science Evolution and Biodiversity Activity

Directions

Answer the questions below, save this file as a .docx, and upload this file to the correct Exploration Activity submission location.

 

Saving this file: When you are done answering these questions – save this template as a WORD DOCUMENT (.docx) named: EA_Evolution_LastName.docx where “LastName” is your last name. Upload to Canvas to submit your assignment. ONLY .docx files will be accepted

 

Part 1: TED-Ed activity

1. Complete the multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions on the TED-Ed website. Note that you must click “save answer” after each question so I can view them. COPY AND PASTE YOUR SHORT ESSAY ANSWERS IN TED-ED below by “Clicking” in the space below.

 

a) COPY/PASTE your answer to the “Mutation Fill in the Blank question”: In your own words finish this sentence: a mutation is a ________. (add answer in space provided below)

Click or tap here to enter text.

b) Describe the key components of evolution as described in the Rock Pocket Mouse natural selection video (HHMI)? A good answer would consider talking about all of the following: mutation, mouse fur color, habitat, predators, fitness, and selection

Click or tap here to enter text.

 

Part 2: Khan Academy

2. Using the EVR text, the HHMI video in the TED-ED exercise, and the info in Khan Academy on Biodiversity and Natural Selection, develop answers for the following questions:

a) Using the Redwood Trees example (Biodiversity and Natural Selection Khan Academy video), DESCRIBE in your own words how the biodiversity of an ecosystem is a response to environmental factors.

Click or tap here to enter text.

b) SUMMARIZE the three main factors that contribute to biodiversity presented at the end of the video

Click or tap here to enter text.

c) Explain the process of Natural Selection in one of the Khan Academy multiple choice answers using evidence from the narrative and your selected answer

Click or tap here to enter text.

Remember: When you are done answering these questions – save this template as a WORD DOCUMENT (.docx) named: EA_Evolution_LastName.docx where “LastName” is your last name. Upload to Canvas to submit your assignment

 
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Biodiversity Qu.IZ WORKSHEET

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QUESTION 1

1. An ecological engineer is:

    Someone who designs human houses based on ecological design principals.
    Someone who designs human houses based on ecological design principals.
    An organism that builds structures like nests or damns.
    An organism that creates habitat for other organisms.

5 points   

QUESTION 2

1. Forest can be functionally categorized based on the their contribution to the following processes:

    a) Water cycling.
    b) Nutrient cycling.
    c) Microclimate regulation.
    a, b, and c
    Only a and b.

5 points   

QUESTION 3

1. The science of systematics studies:

    The ability of plants to produce their own energy.
    How humans interact with the planet.
    How different groups of organisms are evolutionarily related.
    How animals can be placed in different categories based on form.

5 points   

QUESTION 4

1. What is the synapomorphy (shared derived characteristic) that unites all members of the Carnivora and distinguishes them from other mammals?

    Ability to roar.
    Carnassial teeth.
    Retractable claws.
    Hair.

5 points   

QUESTION 5

1. What characterizes the Archeabacteria?

    They all use chlorophyll to generate energy from the sun.
    Their cells contain organelles and a nucleus.
    They have RNA that differs from all other organisms.
    They have a nucleus, but no cell membranes.

5 points   

QUESTION 6

1. Which groups of major global ecosystems occur under environmental conditions (moisture and temperature) that are most similar?

    Rainforest, boreal forest, open woodland.
    Tundra, savanna, temperate forest.
    Savanna, shrubland, grassland.
    Mangrove forest, rainforest, boreal forest.

5 points   

QUESTION 7

1. The most biologically productive part of the world marine ecosystems are:

    On sandy beaches.
    In the pelagic areas of the sea.
    Along the coastlines.
    In deep sea trenches.

5 points   

QUESTION 8

1. What is the globally dominant plant ecosystem?

    Desert.
    Boreal Forest.
    Temperate Forest.
    Chaparral.

5 points   

QUESTION 9

1. Of the four listed below, which is the least common terrestrial ecosystem on our planet?

    Rainforest.
    Deserts.
    Boreal Forests.
    Grasslands.

5 points   

QUESTION 10

1. In taxonomy the basic unit is the?

    Species.
    Taxon.
    Domain.
    Kingdom.

5 points   

QUESTION 11

1. The eukarya have organelles in their cells.  The previous statement is:

True

False

5 points   

QUESTION 12

1. Why is there a wide discrepancy between the number of described species and expected species in some groups of organisms?

    Some organisms are hard to find.
    Few biologists are experts in those groups.
    Their small, so they can fill many more ecological roles.
    All of these answers are correct.

5 points   

QUESTION 13

1. What is biodiversity?

 

10 points   

QUESTION 14

1. Species diversity is made of two components, species richness and evenness.  Please explain these two terms and include an example.

10 points   

QUESTION 15

1. What is the difference between the instrumental and the intrinsic value of biodiversity?

10 points   

QUESTION 16

1. What are one or more characteristics that distinguish plants from animals?  What characteristics do plants and animals share?

 

10 points   

QUESTION 17

1. Which of the following is primarily responsible for limiting the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems?

    Many primary and higher level consumers are opportunistic feeders.
    Most predators require large home ranges.
    Each energy transfer is less than 100% efficient.
    Ecologists are still working to asnwer this question.

5 points   

QUESTION 18

1. What do ecologists study?  Make sure to use your own words.  Don’t cut and paste from the handouts.

10 points   

QUESTION 19

1. Did the return of wolves to the Yellowstone ecosystem have an indirect positive impact on bear populations?

Yes

No

5 points   

QUESTION 20

1. Did the return of wolves to the Yellowstone ecosystem have an indirect negative impact on elk populations?

Yes

No

5 points   

QUESTION 21

1. Did the return of wolves to the Yellowstone ecosystem have a direct negative impact on mesopredator populations?

Yes

No

5 points   

 
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Ecological Footprint

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Biol108 Ecological Footprint Assignment.  The assignment is due on Sunday, June 14th, by 11:59 pm.

1) Please go to this link: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/signup

2) Calculate your ecological footprint.  Please report the number of hectares and number of planet earths needed to support your lifestyle.  Which factors contributed most to your footprint?

3) In a few sentences please define “Ecological Footprint”.

4) Please reflect on this assignment.  Has it changed your thinking about your relationship to biodiversity?  If so, how? (300 words)

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Exotic and Invasive Species

Which of the following species is native to North America?

House Mouse Dandelion

 

 

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Honeybee

Pigeon (Rock Dove)

Starling

Which of the following species is native to North America?

None of these species are native to

North America.

 

 

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Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  species introduced by humans to communities in which they were not previously found.

Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  species introduced by humans to communities in which they were not previously found.

•  introduction can be intentional or unintentional.

Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  have affected virtually all communities, but especially problematic in disrupted habitats.

 

 

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Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  have affected virtually all communities, but especially problematic in disrupted habitats.

•  exotics often invasive.

European Starling – Introduced Species

William Shakespeare’s Birds Central Park NYC, 1896

Spread of the

Starling

1896

 

 

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Spread of the

Starling

1904

Spread of the

Starling

1908

Spread of the

Starling

1910

Spread of the

Starling

1912

 

 

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Spread of the

Starling

1916

Spread of the

Starling

1918

Spread of the

Starling

1920

Spread of the

Starling

1922

 

 

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Spread of the

Starling

1924

Spread of the

Starling

1926

Starling – Current Distribution Great Lakes

 

 

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Great Lakes – Rate of Invasions

Woolly Adelgid – Invasive Species

32

 

 

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33

Honeysuckle – Invasive Species

Cost of Invasives •  More than 4,500 foreign species have

gained a permanent foothold or taken root in the U.S. during the past century.

•  Invasive species contribute to the decline of 46% of the imperiled or endangered species in the U.S.

•  Invasive species are estimated to cost a total of $137 billion annually in losses to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the maintenance of open waterways in the U.S.

Characteristics of Invasives

 

 

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Characteristics of Invasives

•  Rapid Population Growth.

Characteristics of Invasives

•  Rapid Population Growth. •  Displace or Kill Native Species.

Characteristics of Invasives

•  Rapid Population Growth. •  Displace or Kill Native Species. •  No natural population regulation.

– No predators. – No pathogens.

Characteristics of Invasives

•  Rapid Population Growth. •  Displace or Kill Native Species. •  No natural population regulation.

– No predators. – No pathogens.

•  High Dispersal Rates.

 

 

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Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  have affected virtually all communities, but especially problematic in disrupted habitats.

•  exotics often invasive •  native species affected negatively.

Communities can be disrupted by exotic species.

•  have affected virtually all communities, but especially problematic in disrupted habitats.

•  exotics often invasive . •  native species affected negatively. •  at least 30,000 exotic species in U.S. alone.

Exotic species, example

•  Hawaiian land snails – before human contact, more than 1000 species.

Exotic species, example

•  Hawaiian land snails. – before human contact, more than 1000 species.

•  compare to 719 in all of U.S. and Canada.

 

 

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Exotic species, example

•  Hawaiian land snails. – before human contact, more than 1000 species .

•  compare to 719 in all of U.S. and Canada. – just after European arrival, ~930 species.

Exotic species, example

•  Hawaiian land snails. – before human contact, more than 1000 species.

•  compare to 719 in all of U.S. and Canada. – just after European arrival, ~930 species. – 1950s, ~500 species.

Hawaiian snails

•  1950s — Giant African snails. – imported for food.

 

 

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Hawaiian snails

•  1950s — Giant African snails. – imported for food. – escaped, became agricultural pest. – tried to control with poison, didn’t work.

Hawaiian snails

•  1950s — Giant African snails. – imported for food. – escaped, became agricultural pest. – tried to control with poison, didn’t work.

•  imported carnivorous Rosy Wolfsnails.

Hawaiian snails

•  1950s — Giant African snails. – imported for food. – escaped, became agricultural pest. – tried to control with poison, didn’t work.

•  imported carnivorous Rosy Wolfsnails. – didn’t eat Giant African snails. – did eat native snails.

 

 

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Hawaiian snails •  1950s — Giant African snails.

– imported for food. – escaped, became agricultural pest. – tried to control with poison, didn’t work.

•  Imported carnivorous Rosy . – Did eat native snails.

•  now, 75% native species extinct, almost all others endangered.

Exotic species, zebra mussel

•  Native to Black Sea and Caspian Sea.

Exotic species, zebra mussel

•  Native to Black Sea and Caspian Sea. •  1985 – ship discharged ballast (fresh water) in Lake St. Clair.

 

 

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Exotic species, zebra mussel

•  Native to Black Sea and Caspian Sea. •  1985 – ship discharged ballast (fresh water) in Lake St. Clair.

•  Zebra mussels now in: –  all Great Lakes. –  Mississippi and Ohio drainages. –  increasing number of other eastern waterways.

Exotic species, zebra mussel

•  Native to Black Sea and Caspian Sea. •  1985 – ship discharged ballast (fresh water) in Lake St. Clair.

•  Zebra mussels now in: –  all Great Lakes. –  Mississippi and Ohio drainages. –  increasing number of other eastern waterways. –  catastrophic decline of native mussel species.

Exotic species, zebra mussel

•  Native to Black Sea and Caspian Sea. •  1985 – ship discharged ballast (fresh water) in Lake St. Clair.

•  Zebra mussels now in: –  all Great Lakes. –  Mississippi and Ohio drainages. –  increasing number of other eastern waterways. –  catastrophic decline of native mussel species. –  encrustation troublesome to humans.

 

 

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Why are exotics such strong competitors?

•  Study of European plant (473) and animal (26) species that have invaded U.S.

Why are exotics such strong competitors?

•  Study of European plant (473) and animal (26) species that have invaded U.S.

•  Compared parasites in both locales.

Why are exotics such strong competitors?

•  Study of European plant (473) and animal (26) species that have invaded U.S.

•  Compared parasites in both locales. – 84% drop in fungal infections (plants). – 24% drop in viral infections. – Overall 77% lower disease rate.

 
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BIODIVERSITY FINAL PA.PER PROPOSAL

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Final P.a.per – Part I – Proposal
You will write a five to six page paper on any subject on biodiversity.  I encourage you to skim your textbook for ideas on subjects we have not yet covered.  The writing assignment will consist of three parts: a proposal, an outline, and a final pa. per.  I will provide more detail about the other parts of the paper in the coming week.
I advise you to pick a topic that is not too broad. For instance, if you want to cover habitat loss, focus on a particular type of habitat or a particular region.  In the first part of the assignment you will submit three potential subjects for your paper.  For each potential topic include two to three sentences about what you intend cover for your chosen subject.  Please, number each of the three subjects.
I will quickly review your proposal and advise you on which topics are suitable for the final paper.  It is important that you submit this on time, so that you have enough time to finish the paper before the term is over.

 
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