Biology - EC: BIO.B.3.1.2
Biology - EC: BIO.B.3.1.2
Continuum of Activities
The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.
This continuum of activities offers:
- Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
- Questions/activities that grow in complexity
- Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance
Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content
Activities
- The evolution of a species when two groups no longer interbreed is known as what evolutionary term?
- When formerly interbreeding organisms can no longer mate and produce fertile offspring this is known as what evolutionary term?
- Explain how geographic isolation could result into two different species.
- Describe how the actions of humans could inadvertently result in two different species of kangaroos in Australia.
- If a species of fireflies moves into a new area and starts to blink at a different rate than they used to in order to attract a mate, explain why these fireflies wouldn’t be able to mate with the original group and what will most likely happen to the species.
- Two species of squirrels were geographically isolated from each other because of the Niagara Falls Gorge. The squirrels on the United States side have brown fur and the squirrels on the Canadian side have black fur. Explain how this could have happened and predict what might happen if the geographic barrier was later removed and the squirrels could then travel from one side to another.
Answer Key/Rubric
- Speciation
- Reproductive isolation
- Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to:
- Two groups of the same species become isolated from one another by a physical barrier.
- Each species adapts to its environment and eventually the two groups can no longer interbreed.
- Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to:
- Humans could build a barrier (highway, trench, forest) that would isolate two groups of kangaroos. Over time the two groups may adapt to their environment and become separate species that do not breed with one another.
- Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to:
- Because of a behavioral change they blink at a different rate and would not mate with the original species.
- They will eventually become two separate species because of this isolation.
- Acceptable answers include, but are not limited to:
- The squirrels were geographically isolated and each species adapted to their own environment by natural selection.
- The squirrels could be two separate species and if that is the case, they will not be able to interbreed.
