Introduction
In this unit we studied an endangered animal to learn about the possible reasons for endangerment. We also learned about the animal's environment, human impacts, needed resources, biodiversity, dependence, reproduction, ancestral history, and chances of survival. For my group, we studied the green sea turtle. After researching we created a video and two posters in order to inform our other classmates of the information we had found. The video and posters will be shown below, as well as some concepts we learned this unit. In addition to the video, the script used is also available to read through if the video audio is not clear.
Concepts
Extinction- When a certain species is wiped out and ceases to exist. We are studying if the changes in the world will decrease the population of the green sea turtle until it is nothing, or become extinct.
Artificial selection-This is when humans purposely choose which species should reproduce to pass down their traits. Humans can do this with sea turtles if they purposely choose the fastest sea turtles to reproduce, however I am not sure if they do this with sea turtles. Although this is more commonly done with dogs to create cross breeds.
Natural Selection-The process in which nature chooses with individuals reproduce and pass on their traits naturally. An example of this is when sea turtles evolved into laying their eggs on land because the turtles that laid their eggs on land had a higher chance of infant survival. These infants eventually grew up and did the same thing continuing the passing on of that trait.
Biodiversity-This is the variety of different species in a selected habitat or area. An example is the habitat of the turtles will usually have a few sharks, and the mostly fish and different types of plants.
Speciation-When a new species is formed or created. An example of this is when the ancestor of the green sea turtle had evolved into different sea turtles such as the green sea turtle and the snapping turtle.
Types of Speciation- There are many types of speciation which are listed below.
-Founder’s effect- Loss of genetic variation, small population moves to island or other location, changes gene pool
-Genetic Drift- When genes are lost randomly, random act eliminating traits changing the gene pool
-Genetic variation- Difference within a population’s gene pool.
-Allopatric Speciation- When geographically genes are separated and mutate into different species, evolving Separately.
-Sympatric Speciation- Same area however evolve differently, evolving in same location.
-Reproductive Isolation- Live in the same environment but can’t reproduce, do no cross breeding, can’t reproduce with each other.
-Behavioral Isolation- Choose a proper or healthy mate through rituals and physical appearances, don’t find each other mating rituals attractive.
-Geographical Isolation- When a population is separated and can no longer breed with each other causing them to evolve separately.
-Temporal Isolation- When species breed at different times of the year preventing cross breeding. Mating at different times.
Survival of the fittest- The idea of those who are most fit in their environment are chosen to survive naturally. For example, sea turtles have hind flippers that are used as flippers which help them swim. This allows them to swim faster from predators and to their food.
Gene pool-It is the grouping of different genes within a population. An example is when there are different genes for hair color, such as 5% of people have a red hair gene, 75% with a brown hair gene, 13% blond, and 12% black. These percents are the hair color gene pool of this selected population of people.
Evolution-When the ratio of genes in the gene pool has changed, this causes a change in common traits.
Mutation-When there is an error in the copying of genes during the formation of a newborn that creates a new gene. These gene will create a new trait for that individual. This can be seen with the rock pocket mice how some mutated to have darker fur than the other mice.
Gene flow-When parts of a population either emigrants away from an area, or if the population grows from other immigrating in, this causes a change in genes due to some genes either leaving or coming in. This is a factor for evolution, because evolution is when the ratio of genes in a gene pool has changed. Something like this could have happened to the ancestors of the sea turtles where they moved and emigrated to different areas and eventually each evolved to because their own species of sea turtle.
Decrease in Population Size-When the population of a species in an area is randomly decreased or killed off causing evolution. This means that certain genes are randomly killed off causing there to be change in ratio of genes in the gene pool. An example of this is if there were to be some sort of natural disaster like an earthquake which randomly kills 50% of a population. Now those remaining will have a different ratio of genes in the gene pool than previously.
Non Random Mating-When there is a certain process of mating in which each individual chooses a mate by looks or ritual. This can cause evolution because certain traits will be passed down more than others causing a change in ratio in the gene pool. Some examples of this are with certain types of birds have a special mating ritual that the males do to attract mates.
Adaptation-When a species changes to better fit their environment or survive, these tend to be physical or behavioral traits. An example of this is the sea turtles hind flippers have been adapted over time to be better fit for swimming.
Artificial selection-This is when humans purposely choose which species should reproduce to pass down their traits. Humans can do this with sea turtles if they purposely choose the fastest sea turtles to reproduce, however I am not sure if they do this with sea turtles. Although this is more commonly done with dogs to create cross breeds.
Natural Selection-The process in which nature chooses with individuals reproduce and pass on their traits naturally. An example of this is when sea turtles evolved into laying their eggs on land because the turtles that laid their eggs on land had a higher chance of infant survival. These infants eventually grew up and did the same thing continuing the passing on of that trait.
Biodiversity-This is the variety of different species in a selected habitat or area. An example is the habitat of the turtles will usually have a few sharks, and the mostly fish and different types of plants.
Speciation-When a new species is formed or created. An example of this is when the ancestor of the green sea turtle had evolved into different sea turtles such as the green sea turtle and the snapping turtle.
Types of Speciation- There are many types of speciation which are listed below.
-Founder’s effect- Loss of genetic variation, small population moves to island or other location, changes gene pool
-Genetic Drift- When genes are lost randomly, random act eliminating traits changing the gene pool
-Genetic variation- Difference within a population’s gene pool.
-Allopatric Speciation- When geographically genes are separated and mutate into different species, evolving Separately.
-Sympatric Speciation- Same area however evolve differently, evolving in same location.
-Reproductive Isolation- Live in the same environment but can’t reproduce, do no cross breeding, can’t reproduce with each other.
-Behavioral Isolation- Choose a proper or healthy mate through rituals and physical appearances, don’t find each other mating rituals attractive.
-Geographical Isolation- When a population is separated and can no longer breed with each other causing them to evolve separately.
-Temporal Isolation- When species breed at different times of the year preventing cross breeding. Mating at different times.
Survival of the fittest- The idea of those who are most fit in their environment are chosen to survive naturally. For example, sea turtles have hind flippers that are used as flippers which help them swim. This allows them to swim faster from predators and to their food.
Gene pool-It is the grouping of different genes within a population. An example is when there are different genes for hair color, such as 5% of people have a red hair gene, 75% with a brown hair gene, 13% blond, and 12% black. These percents are the hair color gene pool of this selected population of people.
Evolution-When the ratio of genes in the gene pool has changed, this causes a change in common traits.
Mutation-When there is an error in the copying of genes during the formation of a newborn that creates a new gene. These gene will create a new trait for that individual. This can be seen with the rock pocket mice how some mutated to have darker fur than the other mice.
Gene flow-When parts of a population either emigrants away from an area, or if the population grows from other immigrating in, this causes a change in genes due to some genes either leaving or coming in. This is a factor for evolution, because evolution is when the ratio of genes in a gene pool has changed. Something like this could have happened to the ancestors of the sea turtles where they moved and emigrated to different areas and eventually each evolved to because their own species of sea turtle.
Decrease in Population Size-When the population of a species in an area is randomly decreased or killed off causing evolution. This means that certain genes are randomly killed off causing there to be change in ratio of genes in the gene pool. An example of this is if there were to be some sort of natural disaster like an earthquake which randomly kills 50% of a population. Now those remaining will have a different ratio of genes in the gene pool than previously.
Non Random Mating-When there is a certain process of mating in which each individual chooses a mate by looks or ritual. This can cause evolution because certain traits will be passed down more than others causing a change in ratio in the gene pool. Some examples of this are with certain types of birds have a special mating ritual that the males do to attract mates.
Adaptation-When a species changes to better fit their environment or survive, these tend to be physical or behavioral traits. An example of this is the sea turtles hind flippers have been adapted over time to be better fit for swimming.
Presentation |
Script |
Posters
Reflection
This project went quite smoothly in the beginning however I feel as though we rushed it at the end due to a few minor things we had missed while doing working on the finishing touches. A peaks in this project was when we had made a clean schedule for the group to follow which allowed us to complete the research on the sea turtle quickly and easily. Another peak was when we had divided the group into those working on the video and those working on the posters because it allowed us to be more productive with our work and complete it on time. However as a pit, I feel as though we could have communicated better in terms of what each person was putting on each poster because we would have been able to organism things better. In addition, another pit we had was when we had missed a few questions we were suppose to answer that we had to somewhat rush at the very end. Through this project I was able to build up my leadership skills by trying to take an active role in trying to improve the posters by outlining them. I was also able to learn and improve on my researching skills by researching about the sea turtle allowing me to practice finding and using credible sites. Although as a human I still need to improve in my confidence for speaking up for myself when I think something should be changed. Also I could do better with my organization because sometimes I couldn't find what I needed to use.