Download Coevolution webquest

Name:_______________________________________________ Date:______ Period:______
Ms. Murphy
Living Environment
COEVOLUTION WEBQUEST
Part 1: Go to the website:
http://www.necsi.edu/projects/evolution/co-evolution/co-evolution_intro.html
Directions: Read about coevolution and answer the following questions.
Coevolution
 How do organisms benefit through coevolution?
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How do adaptations play a role in coevolution?
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How can coevolution lead to a new species?
Click on the “Predator-Prey Relationships” at the bottom of the page.
Predator Prey Relationships
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How do predator and prey evolve together? Use natural selection in your answer.
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How is coevolution seen in the polar bear and seal pup relationship?
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How did the zebra and lion relationship lead to increased speed in both animals?
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How do the Galapagos tortoise and the cactus show coevolution?
 How do predator-prey relationships lead to keen senses?
Scavenger Hunt
 Many plants have developed defenses against the organisms that try and feed on them.
Research plant adaptations and give two examples of how a plant and another organism have
coevolved together. Please include a picture of both organisms as well.
Mutualistic Relationships
 Why would mutualistic relationships lead to coevolution of two organisms?
 Explain how the oxpecker and zebra (or rhinoceros) show coevolution? Explain the benefits to
both organisms in your answer.
 Define pollination.
 Explain the relationship of the bee and the flower. How would this relationship lead to
coevolution? Use natural selection in your answer.
Scavenger Hunt
 Many flowers have coevolved with the organism that pollinates them to the point where the
extinction in one of these species would most likely lead to the extinction of the other.
Research pollinator and flower relationships and give two examples of flowers that have
coevolved with the organism that pollinates them. Why would extinction of one lead to the
extinction of the other? Include a picture for each example.
 Explain how coevolution could have lead to the organisms below.
Explanation:
Explanation:
Explanation:
 Find a picture of the spider crab covered in algae. Use the picture and what you know about
natural selection to explain how these two organisms could have coevolved.
 Explain the relationship we have with the bacteria that lives in our digestive system.
Scavenger Hunt
 Recently there have been advertisements for various products that contain “probiotics”.
Research probioitcs and give a product that contains them, as well as how they say they can
help your digestive system. Include a picture of your product as well.
Click on the “Parasitic Relationships” link at the bottom of the page.
Parasitic Relationships
 What is a parasitic relationship?
 How do fleas benefit from their hosts? How are the hosts affected?
 How do tapeworms benefit from their hosts? How are the hosts affected?
 How do barnacles benefit from their hosts? How are the hosts affected?
 How could parasites evolve to benefit from their hosts without killing them? Use natural
selection in your answer.
 How do parasites and hosts coevolve?
 How do parasitic relationships cause organisms to coevolve with other organisms other than the
parasite?
Scavenger Hunt
 Research parasitic relationships. Give one example of a parasite and host that have coevolved
other than the ones you see here.
Part 2: Go to the website:
http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/pops/commens.htm#monarch
Directions: Read about commensalism and answer the following questions.
Commensalism
 Explain a commensalism relationship.
 Choose to read about two of the following.
o
o
o
o
Cattle Egret
Anemonefish
Barnacles
Pseudoscorpions
Example 1: ___________________________
 Explain how these two organisms have coevolved.
Example 2:__________________________
 Explain how these two organisms have coevolved.
Mimicry
Go to the website: http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/pops/commens.htm#monarch
Directions: Read about the Monarchs and Viceroys.
 Explain how the Monarch and Viceroy have coevolved. Include a picture with your explanation.
 Predict what would happen to the Viceroy population if the Monarch butterfly population began
to change in appearance.
Evolution: “The Evolutionary Arms Race”
Watch the video found here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/3/quicktime/l_013_01.html
 What type of relationship do the ants and the fungus have? Would they be able to survive
without one another? Explain using coevolution.
 How do the ants protect the fungus?
 Why would many plants in the tropics be poisonous to animals?
 What were the ants covered in?
 What relationship do the ants and the bacteria have?
 Explain why the mold has not evolved antibiotic resistance. Use coevolution in your answer.