Some Like it Hot
Objective:
- To explore how environmental changes can affect organisms and the traits of their offspring.
Background:
The word adaptation, as it is used in everyday speech, refers to a choice that individuals make to adjust to a new environment or situation. In biology, however, adaptation refers to changes in populations that result from natural selection. Natural selection accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. Species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. Biological adaptations can include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment. Organism behaviors include how it moves, obtains food, reproduces and responds to danger.
Although most people think of penguins as cold-weather birds, there are actually 17 species of penguins spread across the southern hemisphere. One species, the Galapagos penguin, actually lives in the tropics. Penguins provide an excellent example of how a body can adapt to both cold and hot environments.
Penguins probably evolved in New Zealand around 60 million years ago, before the creation of Antarctica. The climate in the region at that time was fairly temperate or mild. Penguins spread north and south from New Zealand over the next 40 million years, resulting in several new species, including the well-known Emperor penguins in Antarctica and the less-well-known Galapagos penguins in the tropics.
Some Like it Hot
Objective:
- To explore how environmental changes can affect organisms and the traits of their offspring.
Background:
The word adaptation, as it is used in everyday speech, refers to a choice that individuals make to adjust to a new environment or situation. In biology, however, adaptation refers to changes in populations that result from natural selection. Natural selection accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. Species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. Biological adaptations can include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment. Organism behaviors include how it moves, obtains food, reproduces and responds to danger.
Although most people think of penguins as cold-weather birds, there are actually 17 species of penguins spread across the southern hemisphere. One species, the Galapagos penguin, actually lives in the tropics. Penguins provide an excellent example of how a body can adapt to both cold and hot environments.
Penguins probably evolved in New Zealand around 60 million years ago, before the creation of Antarctica. The climate in the region at that time was fairly temperate or mild. Penguins spread north and south from New Zealand over the next 40 million years, resulting in several new species, including the well-known Emperor penguins in Antarctica and the less-well-known Galapagos penguins in the tropics.
Penguin OffspringSmall- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Small- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Small- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak / Penguin Offspring
Big- Bare skin on feet and beak
Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers
Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers / Penguin Offspring
Big- Extra feathers
Simulation 1: Travel to a Tropical Island
Step 1Take a census. Count the number of each type of penguin in your class. Record the number on your data table.
Step 2Can you survive the summer? Each member of the group will roll the die. The die roll tells you if you survive. If you live, leave your penguin face up on your desk. If you die, turn your penguin face down.
- If you are big with extra feathers, you must roll a 1 to survive.
- If you are big with no extra feathers, you must roll a 1 or 2 to survive.
- If you are small with extra feathers, you must roll a 1 or 2 to survive.
- If you are small with no extra feathers, you must roll a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to survive.
Step 3Take a census. Count the number of each type of surviving penguins in your class. Record the number in your data table for Round 1.
Step 4Reproduce. If your penguin died, you get to become an offspring of one of the surviving penguins in your small group. Which type of penguin survivor is most common? Take a “penguin offspring” card that matches that type of penguin.
If there is a tie for the most common penguin survivor, each of the surviving penguins should roll the die. Any penguins at your table that did not survive the last round should become the offspring of the higher roller.
Step 5Take a class census. Record the numbers in your data table for Round 2.
Step 6Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to complete Round 3.
Simulation 2: Fleeing to a Frozen Land
For this journey, everyone will start again with their original penguin. The steps are the same, expect this time penguins that are big with extra feathers have the advantage.
Step 1Take a census. Count the number of each type of penguin in your class. Record the number on your data table.
Step 2Can you survive the winter? Each member of the group will roll the die. The die roll tells you if you survive. If you live, leave your penguin face up on your desk. If you die, turn your penguin face down.
- If you are big with extra feathers, you must roll a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to survive.
- If you are big with no extra feathers, you must roll a 1 or 2 to survive.
- If you are small with extra feathers, you must roll a 1 or 2 to survive.
- If you are small with no extra feathers, you must roll a 1 to survive.
Step 3Take a census. Count the number of each type of surviving penguins in your class. Record the number in your data table for Round 1.
Step 4Reproduce. If your penguin died, you get to become an offspring of one of the surviving penguins in your small group. Which type of penguin survivor is most common? Take a “penguin offspring” card that matches that type of penguin.
If there is a tie for the most common penguin survivor, each of the surviving penguins should roll the die. Any penguins at your table that did not survive the last round should become the offspring of the higher roller.
Step 5Take a class census. Record the numbers in your data table for Round 2.
Step 6Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to complete Round 3.