Bird Beaks

Hi all,

We have recently been learning about adaptation, the process by which natural selection shapes the traits within a population of organisms to best fit their environment.  Adaptive traits are the features that allow an organism to be fit for its environment (to survive AND reproduce).

Today we are going to examine bird beaks.  Bird beaks are all shaped differently according to what the bird eats.  We can say that the beaks are adaptive - they are shaped by natural selection to allow the bird to eat its food.

Let's look at some different birds feeding:

Roseate Spoonbills - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RagmD8A6km8

Osprey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-PMvRFBtQ

African Fish Eagle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0-gvT-w2Fc

Piping Plover - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcrEHmm68MM

Flamingo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07EyyVnyKrA

Pileated Woodpecker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqnactkXx08

Hummingbird - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b31CAYF2fIA

Galapagos Penguins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxR9hAz8XLw

Cormorant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4o6ObM2E5w

Barn swallows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUu1L1rjS4

Pelican - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJxqkwTb5LA

Shearwaters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wRpm5TTFI8

Biology Quiz 2.4

Hi all,

You have 3 things to accomplish today.

1. Complete your natural selection laboratory assignment.
2. Complete Quiz 2.4 on paper and then enter it online here.
3.  Read this article and answer the discussion questions here.

Have a good weekend :)

Natural Selection Lab Report

Today we are completing another simulation of natural selection, but this time we are going to investigate the variables individually in a laboratory investigation.  Here are the instructions and the worksheet (which you already have).

Click here to get to the simulator.

To run the simulator, you must..

1. Click "Download"

2. Click on "Keep"

3. Click on the file name.

4.  The simulator may give another warning as it opens.  If this is the case, tell it to run!

If you get another odd error, please ask for help.  

If the simulator opens, add a friend:

5.  Familiarize yourself with the variables before you begin the lab:

Natural Selection Labs

Today we are in the computer lab, using various natural selection simulators.  Please complete the worksheet for each of these websites:

Peppered moth - http://www.techapps.net/interactives/pepperMoths.swf

Colored ants - http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_12/BL_12.html

Bug eating - http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/evolution/what-is-evolution/natural-selection-game/the-evolution-experience.html

Beetles again - http://sciencenetlinks.com/media/filer/2011/10/07/evolution.swf

After you complete the worksheet, hand it in to Mr. Trainer.

Please take a look at our word wall for this unit here.  Now make a word wall entry for "Adaptation" and email it to me at james_trainer@dpsk12.org.  Your entry needs to include the word, a definition, and an image.  You may use Powerpoint or any other software to help you build the entry.