unit a: biodiversity
2. Biodiversity and Variation Notes:
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performance task
learning goals resources
1. Symbiosis
- Assignment 1: Ask your teacher for the "Ecological Interactions" activity materials (it involves M&M's!!) Read the information, answer the questions, and complete the activity.
- Assignment 2: Draw a food web illustrating your species' symbiotic relationships with at least 4 other species at 3 different trophic levels (i.e. producer, consumer, decomposer). Label examples of mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism, predator/prey, and herbivory where appropriate. Also state whether your species is a generalist or a specialist and explain your answer.
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2. Niche Life: Use the following resources to help you understand what a niche is (pronounced "neesh" or "nich")
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Understanding niche graphs will be important for the quiz!!
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Formative Quiz & Self-Reflection: This quiz is intended to identify your areas of strength and weaknesses so far. The quiz itself is not for marks. Following the quiz, and after I have "marked" it, you will review the questions and communicate a few sentences for each question answered incorrectly, explaining the reason for your misunderstanding of the question (e.g. you mixed up the definitions for generalist and specialist). You will be marked on the quality of your responses, and your clarity in explaining your misunderstanding of the relevant concept. You may communicate your self-reflection in any way you choose.
- Note: It's actually less work to simply study for the quiz and do well the first time!!
What's on the quiz?
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Self-Reflection Rubric
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4. Reproduction Causes Variation
- Assignment 1: Create your own origami DNA model! Ask your teacher for the origami DNA template and click on the link below for instructions on coloring and folding it. Check the rubric posted below Assignment 2 to see how you will be assessed.
A.) How to colour:
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- Assignment 2: Ask your teacher for the DNA, chromosomes, and genes flow chart.
- Define each term and draw an illustration in each box to represent it.
- Then, research and record your species' number of chromosomes in the "chromosomes" box, and some aspect of your species' genetics (for example, this article talks about how penguins don't have the genes that allow them to taste sweet, bitter, and savory flavors) in the "genes/genetics" box. Be sure to record your research sources! Check the rubric below to see how you will be assessed.
Rubric
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5. Investigate How Traits are Passed from Parents to Offspring
- Notes: Ask your teacher for the Mendelian Genetics handout. Watch the video below to help you fill in the blanks. At the end of the handout (after you have watched the video), use the definitions below to help you define discrete and continuous variation. Then, on the handout, identify 2 examples of discrete variation and 2 examples of continuous variation that aren't listed in the examples below. If you want, you can try to find examples related to your species, but I think you'll have a tough time finding species-specific examples.
Definitions
1. Discrete Variation: differences in characteristics that have a defined form. You can think of discrete variation as being the "either/or" form.
Example: a cat either has blue eyes or does not have blue eyes
Example: you can either roll your tongue or not roll your tongue
2. Continuous Variation: differences in characteristics that have a range of forms. They are not one form or
another.
Example: your height (the height of an adult human can range from 1.2 m to 2.1 m.)
Example: skin color (there is a wide range of skin colors)
3. Incomplete Dominance: a pattern of inheritance seen when two different alleles are present at the same gene location, but neither is dominant
Example: snap dragons have a white flower allele and a red flower allele, but together they produce pink flowers (image below).
1. Discrete Variation: differences in characteristics that have a defined form. You can think of discrete variation as being the "either/or" form.
Example: a cat either has blue eyes or does not have blue eyes
Example: you can either roll your tongue or not roll your tongue
2. Continuous Variation: differences in characteristics that have a range of forms. They are not one form or
another.
Example: your height (the height of an adult human can range from 1.2 m to 2.1 m.)
Example: skin color (there is a wide range of skin colors)
3. Incomplete Dominance: a pattern of inheritance seen when two different alleles are present at the same gene location, but neither is dominant
Example: snap dragons have a white flower allele and a red flower allele, but together they produce pink flowers (image below).
- Assignment: Ask your teacher for the Punnett Squares Practice worksheet.
6. Natural Selection Comic
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7. Biotechnology for genetic recombination (synthetic biology)
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8. Strategies for Protecting Biodiversity
9. Developing Research Skills
10. Defending a Position on an Issue Based on Your Findings
11. Evaluating Individual and Group Effort on a Project