Title: Darwin's Finches: Evolution and Natural Selection Lab
Url: http://www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol-37/v37reprint.php?ch=15
Author: Karen R. Andersen
Kimberly S. Orrell
Laurel S. Rodgers
Author's Address: Shenandoah University, Biology Department, VA
Email Address: korrell@su.edu
Description: This lab demonstrates how changes in environmental conditions can result in the evolution of a species.
Students are introduced to the research of Peter and Rosemary Grant, which documents rapid evolutionary
changes in the ground finches of Daphne Major. To illustrate natural selection and evolution in action,
students will become finches, with each student representing one of four beak types. The students make
hypotheses and predictions about how the different beaks will affect his/her ability to forage for food, and test those predictions by using their beaks to collect different kinds of seeds. Students graph their data to evaluate their predictions.
Keywords: microevolution
adaptive radiation
natural selection
Darwin’s Finches
macroevolution
evolution
Topic: Evolution
BEN Subject/Discipline Taxonomy: Evolutionary Biology
Learning Resource Type: Laboratory exercise (DCMI Type Vocabulary)
Context: Undergraduate lower division 13-14
Format: pdf
Access Rights: This resource is for ABLE members only.
Rights: http://www.ableweb.org/copyright-policy/
Conference Location & Year: Boston University (2015)
Cumulative Rating: NOT YET RATED
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