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 Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Biology RCD Unit 4 ‐ Assessment Performance Task Today the modern elephant is disappearing off the face of the earth at an alarming rate. It is our responsibility as human beings to step in and determine the causes of this mass extinction event. To better understand what is going on we need to take a look back into the evolution of the modern elephant and track past extinctions and changes in the environment to determine possible solutions to this issue. There are four points of research that will be used to examine this issue and build a reasonable solution to the problem. Your task is to work through the four areas of research and collect evidence and data to support your solution. Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Research Area 1 ‐ Evolution of the Elephant NGSS Addressed: HS‐LS4‐1. Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. HS‐LS4‐2. Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1)the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. Claim to be made with supported evidence: Use evidence to show the evolution of extant elephants from extinct members at least 4 steps back on the evolutionary tree. Directions: Examine the evolution of modern elephants and determine how they have been able to be successful species. Use evidence to show the evolution of extinct elephants from extinct members at least 4 steps back on the evolutionary tree. (use fossil evidence, homologous structures) Use evidence to explain that evolution along the elephant evolutionary tree was driven by either genetic variation, mutation, sexual reproduction, competition for limited resources, and/or various adaptation. Your findings will be used to help support your claim in determining the mass extinction taking place. Possible Sources: 1. Elephants forever 2. Ancestry and evolution of the elephant 3. 50 million years of elephant evolution 4. Elephant Evolution​
1 5. Elephant evolution 2 6. Evolution of African Elephant using dental fossils 7. Kruger National Park Elephant Info 8. Elephant evolution PPT 9. From mammoth to elephant 10. The Evolution and Diversity of Proboscideans Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Research Area 2 ‐ Mammoth Extinction NGSS Addressed: HS‐LS4‐5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species Claim to be made with supported evidence: Use evidence to support a hypothesis that explains the rise and extinction of the wooly mammoth. Explain adaptations of extinct and extant elephants that have been driven by the environment through natural selection. Directions: During the time of the Mammoth there were many changes taking place to the planet and its inhabitants. Examine these changes and compare the extinction of the mammoth to the emergence of the modern elephant. Use evidence to support a hypothesis that explains the extinction of the wooly mammoth. Possible sources: 1. How did the Mammoth go extinct 2. Ice Mammoth 3. Why did the Woolly Mammoth die out NatGeo 4. DNA Traces Woolly Mammoth's Disappearance 5. Change in plant species contributes to large mammal extinction 6. Climate Change/Human impact on Woolly Mammoth extinction 7. Woolly Mammoth Wikipage 8. mammoth, animals from A­Z 9. Did humans make the mammoth go extinct 10. Extinct Mammoth was as smart as the modern elephant Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Research Area 3 ‐ Elephant Adaptations and the Environment NGSS Addressed: HS‐LS4‐2. Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1)the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. HS‐LS4‐4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. Claim to be made with supported evidence: Explain adaptations of extinct and extant elephants that have been driven by the environment through natural selection. Use evidence to explain that the process of evolution for elephants was due to: 1. The potential for species to increase in number 2. Heritable genetic variation due to mutation and sexual reproduction 3. Competition for limited resources 4. Proliferation of well adapted organisms Directions: The elephant has been evolving for millennia to be suited to thrive in a variety of environmental conditions and pressures from competing factors. Examine the variety of factors that have driven the evolution of the elephant and how limiting resources, environment and mutations have helped and hurt the elephant. Possible Sources: 1. African Elephant and climate change fact sheet. 2. African wildlife and climate change 3. Woolly mammoth distribution 4. Woolly mammoth extinction 5. Background info on African Elephants, Asian Elephants, & Mammoths 6. Background and Adaptations of Asian Elephants 7. Elephant adaptations 8. Ears, trunks and tusks 9. Desert adapted elephants 10. Adaptation and Habitat
Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Area 4 ‐ Human Impact and Elephant Populations NGSS Addressed: HS‐ETS1‐3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real‐world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade‐offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. Claim to be made with supported evidence: Use evidence to support a hypothesis that explains the current extinction event occurring now with extant elephants. Provide a reasonable solution that can help increase the current population of elephants. Directions: The relationship between humans and elephants has been a major cause of the extinction of the elephant. Loss of habitat, environmental changes, and poaching have all been associated with their decline. Surprisingly there has been a new mutation that has developed from this issue. Research the adaptations from present and past elephants and compare the environments and factors associated to their extinction. Explain how natural selection is a driving factor in the elephants evolution and how it's shaping the modern elephant. Possible sources: 1. Elephant poaching 2. Elephant census 3. Elephants longevity and Causes of Death 4. Asian Elephants: Threats and Solutions 5. Elephant Population Decline 6. Potential Extinction of the African Elephants Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Unit 4 Rubric HS­LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity/HS­ETS1 Engineering Design HS‐LS4‐1. Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. (Claim 1) HS‐LS4‐2. Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1)the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. (Claim 2) HS‐LS4‐4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. (Claim 3) HS‐LS4‐5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species (Claim 4, 5) HS‐ETS1‐3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real‐world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade‐offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. (Claim 6) Claims to be made with supported evidence: 1. Use evidence to show the evolution of extant elephants from extinct members at least 4 steps back on the evolutionary tree. (HS‐LS 4‐1) 2. Use evidence to explain that the process of evolution for elephants was due to (HS‐LS 4‐2) a. The potential for species to increase in number b. Heritable genetic variation due to mutation and sexual reproduction c. Competition for limited resources d. Proliferation of well adapted organisms 3. Explain adaptations of extinct and extant elephants that have been driven by the environment through natural selection. (HS‐LS 4‐4) 4. Use evidence to support a hypothesis that explains the rise and extinction of the wooly mammoth. (HS‐LS 4‐5) 5. Use evidence to support a hypothesis that explains the current extinction event occurring now with extant elephants. (HS‐LS 4‐5) 6. Provide a reasonable solution that can help increase the current population of elephants. (HS‐ETS 1‐3) Formatting: APA Format Highlight Claims Green, Highlight Evidence Yellow, Highlight Vocab Terms Pink Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Unit 4 Scoring Guide/Rubric 4 (Advanced) Report includes: 3 (Proficient) Report includes: Report includes: 1 (Beginning) Report includes: ❑ Title ❑ Title ❑ Title ❑ Title ❑ Work Cited 11 ­ 12 sources ❑ Work Cited 8 ­ 10 sources ❑ Work Cited 4 ­ 7 sources ❑ Work Cited 0 ­ 2 source ❑ Each source is cited twice within the body of the report ❑ Each source is cited once within the body of the report ❑ No sources cited within the body of the report. ❑ At least 6 claims are discussed ❑ 5 claims are discussed ❑ A few of the sources are cited within in the body of the report ❑ Each claim is supported by evidence ❑ Each claim is supported by evidence ❑ Scientifically accurate ❑ Scientifically accurate with minimal errors ❑ Uses at least 25 vocabulary terms ❑ 3 ­ 4 claims are discussed ❑ Some evidence is used to support the claims ❑ Somewhat scientifically accurate with several errors ❑ Uses 16 ­ 24 vocabulary terms ❑ Follows APA format 2 (Progressing) ❑ Follows APA format ❑ Highlights properly ❑ Highlights properly ❑ Highly organized ❑ Mostly organized ❑ 0 ­ 2 claims are discussed ❑ Little to no evidence is used to support the claims ❑ Mostly scientifically inaccurate with major errors ❑ Uses 0 ­ 7 vocabulary terms ❑ Uses 8 ­ 15 vocabulary terms ❑ Does not follow APA format ❑ Loosely follows APA format ❑ Little to no highlighting ❑ Mostly highlights ❑ Poorly organized properly ❑ Loosely organized Elephant Extinction Examining the past, present, and future struggles of a species Chp. 15 1. Evolution 2. Natural Selection 3. Artificial Selection 4. Fitness 5. Adaptation 6. Common Descent 7. Fossils 8. Homologous Structures 9. Vestigial Organs Chp. 16 10. Gene Pool 11. Relative Frequency 12. Directional Selection 13. Stabilizing Selection 14. Disruptive Selection 15. Genetic Drift 16. Founder Effect 17. Genetic Equilibrium 18. Speciation 19. Reproductive Isolation 20. Behavioral Isolation 21. Geographic Isolation 22. Temporal Isolation Chp. 17 23. Fossil Record 24. Relative Dating 25. Radioactive Dating 26. Geologic Timescale 27. Macroevlotion 28. Adaptive Radiation 29. Convergent Evolution 30. Coevolution 31. Punctuated Equilibrium Chp. 4­2 32. Niche Chp. 6 ­3 33. Extinction Instructor Provided (Online, Notes, Discussion, etc.) 34. Extant 35. Bottleneck Effect