Overview
This project was to learn about the stages of evolution, speciation , classification, and focusing in on how to make a hardware cladogram. We had multiple "mini projects" that enabled us to further learn about the process of a cladogram.
The mini projects included: taxonomy reports, and evolution of a certain animal. The taxonomy report consisted of us discovering the complete taxonomy for one species in which we chose the sea otter. From Domain to Species we described the full classification. The second project was analyzing the full evolution of a specific animal. The animal we investigated was the grey wolf. To see the presentation on grey wolf evolution click here.
Both projects allowed to to create the full hardware cladogram which included taxonomy reports/ classification of each species.
The mini projects included: taxonomy reports, and evolution of a certain animal. The taxonomy report consisted of us discovering the complete taxonomy for one species in which we chose the sea otter. From Domain to Species we described the full classification. The second project was analyzing the full evolution of a specific animal. The animal we investigated was the grey wolf. To see the presentation on grey wolf evolution click here.
Both projects allowed to to create the full hardware cladogram which included taxonomy reports/ classification of each species.
We were given a set of hardware pieces and from there we had to make a chart on how they evolved, or in what characteristics they shared. After creating the cladogram we then classified each species and made a story on how each came to be. Then we presented our story to the class.
Here is our cladogram.
Concepts
Taxonomic ranks: seven ranks of classification that describes organisms. We created a full taxonomy report for the sea otter, as mentioned previously.
Species: a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
Speciation: the process where new species are created due to physical or behavioral barriers. We researched speciation it's how it can happen, like geographic isolation.
Organism: an individual animal or single-celled life. We learned all about specific organisms and how they evolved or how they were classified.
Evolution: how organisms have developed and diversified from earlier life forms. The evolution of the grey wolf was one of the projects we did.
Cladogram: a branching diagram showing the cladistic relations between organisms.
Sympatric Speciation: The process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region.
Allopatric Speciation: the process through which a new species evolves from being geographically separated from it's original source.
Behavioral Isolation: when a species is isolated from another due to behavioral differences, like mating habits, and further separates from it's original ancestor
Geographic Isolation: when one species is separated due to a geographic barrier forming, like a river or mountain, and causing further differentiation from new resources.
Natural Selection: the survival of the fittest between species in a certain niche, involving passing on successful traits and creating the fittest population.
Mutation: a change in DNA that can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial. This causes adaptations leading to survival of the fittest.
Adaptation: a trait that is developed or passed down into an organism.
Species: a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
Speciation: the process where new species are created due to physical or behavioral barriers. We researched speciation it's how it can happen, like geographic isolation.
Organism: an individual animal or single-celled life. We learned all about specific organisms and how they evolved or how they were classified.
Evolution: how organisms have developed and diversified from earlier life forms. The evolution of the grey wolf was one of the projects we did.
Cladogram: a branching diagram showing the cladistic relations between organisms.
Sympatric Speciation: The process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region.
Allopatric Speciation: the process through which a new species evolves from being geographically separated from it's original source.
Behavioral Isolation: when a species is isolated from another due to behavioral differences, like mating habits, and further separates from it's original ancestor
Geographic Isolation: when one species is separated due to a geographic barrier forming, like a river or mountain, and causing further differentiation from new resources.
Natural Selection: the survival of the fittest between species in a certain niche, involving passing on successful traits and creating the fittest population.
Mutation: a change in DNA that can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial. This causes adaptations leading to survival of the fittest.
Adaptation: a trait that is developed or passed down into an organism.
Reflection
This project allowed for us to learn many different skill sets and then combine them into one end product. WE covered evolution as a whole, classifying organisms, organisms themselves, and new ways to display information. One thing my group did well on was organizing our time. We had to recreate our cladogram multiple times, but still we were able to finish everything early. Another thing my group did well on was pushing each other to finish a high quality product. For the story on how our hardware pieces evolved, we all contributed equally to make a fantastic story.
One thing my group struggled with though is getting distracted We could easily go off task and not stay focused on our cladogram. Next time, I will try to remain on task more often, and get less distracted when things come up. Another thing I can improve is my work ethic. Now I did contribute most of my ideas into my product, I had a hard time staying motivated. This ties into getting distracted. When I became unmotivated to keep working during the end of the period, then I would get distracted.
This project was very informative and I enjoyed working with my group to create it.
One thing my group struggled with though is getting distracted We could easily go off task and not stay focused on our cladogram. Next time, I will try to remain on task more often, and get less distracted when things come up. Another thing I can improve is my work ethic. Now I did contribute most of my ideas into my product, I had a hard time staying motivated. This ties into getting distracted. When I became unmotivated to keep working during the end of the period, then I would get distracted.
This project was very informative and I enjoyed working with my group to create it.