Evolution Final Project

Your task is to create/discover a new species in the environment of your choosing. You are an archaeologist, living in the year 5016, who has made a groundbreaking discovery of never seen before fossils. (Since this is the future, the fossils you found could have come from a plant or animal that’s evolved since 2016. )You need to convince your town of non-biologists that you have discovered a new species using scientific knowledge and evidence. The challenge involves dealing with current lineages of species and your newly discovered fossils to demonstrate the evolutionary process that culminated in your unique species. You will create a poster containing detailed diagrams of the evolutionary process via natural selection in order to convince the townspeople this speciation event has indeed occurred.

Your project /poster needs to include:

1. A picture of your species with a unique name and shown in its natural environment. 2. 4 adaptations that specialize this animal for its ecological niche. Be CREATIVE. 3. 4 types of natural selection that acted on the INDIVIDUAL TRAITS (Directional selection,

stabilizing selection, disruptive selection) Must use at least 2 different types. 4. Show divergent evolution using a phylogenetic tree (cladogram) that includes at least 5 ancestors

and the shared derived characteristics. 5. A Visual of 2 pieces of evidence for this evolutionary process (homologous/vestigial,

embryological, biochemical, fossils) and a few sentences to describe the evidence. 6. A diagram of your speciation event (Allopatric speciation or sympatric speciation?) and a few

sentences to describe how it happened. 7. A comprehensive description on your poster of your understanding for how the new species

evolved via natural selection. 5-7 sentences. No more. No less. (Must include overproduction, genetic variation, struggle for existence and adaptation)

Met all of the requirements

Met most of the requirements

Met some of the requirements

Missing most of the requirements

Missing all of the requirements

Adaptation 1 with type of selection

4 3 2 1 0

Adaptation 2 with type of selection

4 3 2 1 0

Adaptation 3 with type of selection

4 3 2 1 0

Adaptation 4 with type of selection

4 3 2 1 0

Phylogenetic Tree 4 3 2 1 0Evidence 4 3 2 1 0Speciation Event 7-8 5-6 3-4 1-2 0Explanation of Natural Selection

7-8 5-6 3-4 1-2 0

Picture with environment

4-5 3 2 1 0

Organization/Clarity 4-5 3 2 1 0TOTAL: 50

What full credit looks like:

Adaptations: Drawn, labeled and briefly described on the poster in terms of how it benefits the organism reproductively. Types of Selection: Includes a small diagram/graph of the type of selection next to the trait with a brief clear and accurate description. More than 1 type is included. Phylogenetic Tree: Includes a cladogram illustrating the organism’s history of descendants (at least 5) with shared derived characteristics listed on the phylogenetic tree. Look at examples to help you. Evidence: Includes but not limited to picture of similar embryo of related species, picture/diagram of vestigial or homologous structures from related species, drawn fossils. Organized. Explanation of Natural Selection: Includes discussion of over-production, genetic variation (WHY is there genetic variation), struggle for existence, and adaptation with specific details of how natural selection resulted in YOUR species. Population Event: Visual of allopatric or sympatric speciation (whichever you chose), and brief explanation. Picture : Hand drawn or personally created on the computer with adaptations labeled. Animal is drawn in its natural habitat. Organization/Clarity: The different sections of the assignment are neatly divided on the poster. It is easy to follow, clearly written with no grammatical errors, colored, and looks as though time and effort were put into this.

What I DON’T want to see:

My organism developed long claws because he had to dig in the ground to get his food My organism grew a long neck because it had to reach the trees to eat My organism needed bright colors to warn away predators so they all became bright Directional selection acted on my organism so they were all large Stabilizing selection acted on my organism so they all had medium colored shells.

Thing to think about and INCLUDE:

Overpopulation How did diversity arise in your population? WHY was each organism a little different? Adaptations are only structures that help the organism REPRODUCE or live long enough to REPRODUCE Natural selection is the mechanism by which evolution occurred and resulted in your species.

Previous student PROJECT: