Introduction to Variations and Adaptations

Look at the following animals: 1.Which animal would be best suited to live in THE SNOWY ARCTIC? 2.Why do you think this? * You will need your NOTEBOOKS today!

Agenda Individual: Evolution, Mutation, Variation, Adaptation Variations and Adaptations in Animals Group: Animal Feeding Time! Peppered Moth Example Prove You Know It!

What is evolution? Evolution: change over time

Evolution:

What is a mutation? Mutation: physical changes in DNA that lead to variations in a group

Mutation

What is variation? Variation: differences within a group of organisms. These differences can be HELPFUL, HARMFUL, or NEITHER.

Variations

Adaptation

Important Evolution Term Review! Evolution: change over time Mutation: physical changes in DNA that lead to variations in a group Variation: differences within a group of organisms. These differences can be HELPFUL, HARMFUL, or NEITHER. Adaptation: helpful characteristics that allow an organism to better survive and reproduce!

Agenda Individual: Evolution, Mutation, Variation, Adaptation Variations and Adaptations in Animals Group: Animal Feeding Time! Peppered Moth Example Prove You Know It!

Adaptations and Variation Practice Two Pictures (different animals) Answer the following five questions: 1.What organisms are we comparing? 2.What environment are we considering? 3.What is the biggest variation between the two organisms? 4.Which variation would be the best ADAPTATION for each environment? (Explain your answer!)

#1 Example: 1.Species=rabbits. There are 2 rabbits. (Bugs bunny and white rabbit). 2.Escaping from a coyote. 3.The biggest variation is that one rabbit is all white and the other has some grey on it. Another variation is that bugs bunny has longer legs to run faster. 4.Bugs bunny is better adapted to run away from the coyote. Also, his color will help him to blend in and “hide” from the coyote.

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Agenda Individual: Evolution, Mutation, Variation, Adaptation Variations and Adaptations in Animals Group: Animal Feeding Time! Peppered Moth Example Prove You Know It!

“Variations and Adaptations Marshmallow Lab” You are all a new species of animal! There are 3 different variations of this animal’s nose (forkish, spoonish, knifish) 1.Scientific Question: What type of nose will enable the animal to eat the most marshmallows? 2.Hypothesis: Make your own! What nose will work the best? In 30 seconds you will take up as many marshmallows as possible. 3.Before we begin… explain the independent variable, dependent variable, and control for this investigation.

Number of Marshmallows Eaten 4.What is the VARIATION? 5.What is the ADAPTATION? 6.Which adaptation worked the best to feed this new animal? 7.Explain whether or not you accept or reject your hypothesis. Number of marshmallows eaten Knifish Forkish Spoonish “Variations and Adaptations Marshmallow Lab”

8. Conclusion Questions… Suppose that you, as the creatures with utensils as mouths, ate Krispy Kreme donuts instead of mini-marshmallows. How do you think our results would’ve been different? What do you think would happen if a small group of each species of utensil-creatures migrated to an island where there were mostly donuts to eat? What about spaghetti?

Scholars… 9.Create a graph for the data found in the lab. 10.Explain what % of marshmallows were picked up with each type of nose. 11.What are sources of error for this experiment? “Variations and Adaptations Marshmallow Lab”

Agenda Individual: Evolution, Mutation, Variation, Adaptation Variations and Adaptations in Animals Group: Animal Feeding Time! Peppered Moth Example Prove You Know It!

Peppered Moths This occurred in another, real population years ago: – Peppered Moths

Turtle Book (Optional Activity) Research peppered moths on your own in order to write a short essay to explain the following: 1.What are the 2 variations of the peppered moth? 2.What environment enabled the white moth to survive? 3.What environment enabled the black moth to survive? 4.How did pollution have an effect on the peppered moth population?

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, peppered moths were lighter colored, in order to blend into the light birch trees

However, after the Industrial Revolution, the soot and ash from all the factories was pumped into the air, turning the trees darker. This resulted in DARKER moths being able to survive better!

Agenda Individual: Evolution, Mutation, Variation, Adaptation Variations and Adaptations in Animals Group: Animal Feeding Time! Peppered Moth Example Prove You Know It!

EXIT QUIZ Penguins have to swim around in order to catch the fish they like to eat for dinner. In Antarctica, some penguins are born with extra-long flippers and some penguins are born with really short, stubby flippers. 1.What is the biggest VARIATION among the penguins? 2.What is the ADAPTATION in this group of penguins? 3.Over time, which group of penguins, do you think, will survive the longest to have children?