Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________

Date: __________________

Evolution Web Quest

Go to the Science Weebly: http://neirottiscience.weebly.com/
Click on: Awesome Science Websites (Scroll to bottom)

Part 1: Charles Darwin & Natural Selection

In the book, Darwin proposed that evolution occurs by means of
natural selection. Natural selection is the process by which individuals
that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and
reproduce. According to Darwin, there are factors that affect the process of
natural selection.

These factors are:

1. Variations
2. Overproduction
3. Competition

You will explore the three factors that affect the process of natural selection.
First, you need to learn a little bit more about Darwin and his observations.

On the weebly, click on Charles Darwin Origin of Species &

Survival Game:
http://www.sciencechannel.com/games-and-interactives/charles-darwin-
game/

Click on Learn about natural selection.

1. Every species exhibits variations. Give 3 examples of variation that occur

with a species:
a.
b.
c.

2. Many traits are passed down from parents to offspring. What animal
example was used to describe the passing of traits?
_________________________

3. Why does competition in nature play a role in the survival of the fittest?

4. Play the survival game: Have fun and survive!

Did your species survive? Why or why not?
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

Click on the Pepper Moths Game:

http://peppermoths.weebly.com/

1. How does the pattern of the pepper moth

help them hide from predators? (Life Cycle
of pepper moth)

2. Why did the population of dark moths increase so drastically from 1848
to 1900? (Impact of Pollution)

3. How did the moths evolve from having a lighter color to being a darker
color? (Impact of Pollution)

4. Experience Natural Selection in action by clicking on birds eye view

and playing the game. Try the light forest setting and the dark forest
setting. What did you notice about the moth population after you
finished the game?

Part 2: Variations
Click on Evolution in Action:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/evolution-action-salamanders.html

Watch the video clip about salamanders:

1. Where are the salamanders from? _______________________

2. Why do the salamanders look and behave so differently (variations)?

3. Why was camouflage so beneficial to the salamanders?

4. Why was camouflage no longer necessary for the red salamander in

Southern California?
On the weebly, click on Praying Mantis Adaptation Video:
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hGuallLPcM

Watch the video clip about the praying mantis:

1. What is the praying mantis strategy for self-defense?

2. Describe 2 adaptations which enable the mantis to survive.

3. Why does the environment of the mantis play a role in its survival?
Give a supporting example.

4. Would an individual mantis be able to transform its appearance if it

were placed in another type of environment? Why or why not?

On the weebly, go to Design a Fish with the Right Adaptations:

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/lsps07_int_buildafish/

Play the design a fish game for 5 minutes.

1. Describe the traits of the fish you created.

2. Did your fish survive with the adaptations you created?

Part 3: Overproduction
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

Darwin said that all organisms, without any exception, reproduce at a

much higher rate than required. For example, fish lay millions of eggs
during spawning. Each oyster can lay 60-80 million eggs. Darwin calculated
that if a pair of houseflies lays all its eggs and if all offspring survive and
reproduce to their full potential, then in one season (March to October) it
will leave 191,000,000,000,000,000,000 (191 quintillion) individuals!
Woah!!

Darwin knew that most species produce far more offspring

than can possibly survive.

On the weebly, watch this video clip from Finding Nemo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG3L98NFyro

1. Fish lay thousands of eggs in one reproductive cycle. Describe 3

reasons why some animals, such as fish, need to overproduce.

1. Overproduction obviously benefits the survival of fish species. What could

potentially happen to the survival of a fish species if their members do not
produce eggs in such large quantities?

3. Advanced: What importance does overproduction play in Darwins theory of

evolution by natural selection? (Hint: Think genes)

Part 4: Competition
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

Since food and other resources are limited. The members of a species
must compete with each other to survive. A species may at times have to
compete for resources. Not all will survive

On the weebly, click on Darwin - Origin of Species:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/darwin/origin/index.html

Read an origin of species.

On the map, choose a Pollenkeeper bird from Norcross Island or Windsor

Island.

Read how the Pollenkeepers competition changes throughout millions of

years. Begin at 5 mya (million years ago) and go through each million years
to the present.

1. Describe the time frame that the birds faced the most competition. What
was their competition?

2. Draw a before and after diagram of what the beak of the Pollenkeepers
looked like during a time of low competition and high competition.

LOW Competition HIGH Competition

Bird Food Choices:

Part 5: Shellfish & Algae
Fish (caught underwater)
Nuts & Seeds
Nectar
Insects
Fruit (pluck & peel) / small frogs &
reptiles
Moths, Mosquitos, Beetles, Ants
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

On the weebly, click on

Bird Beak Adaptations:
http://www.vtaide.com/png/bird-adaptations3.htm

Using the information on the website and what you know about
adaptations and variations. Match the shape of the birds beak to the tool
it is similar to and the food that its beak is suitable to eat. Use the food
choice bank above to help you.

Evolution Webquest Rubric

(25 points classwork grade)
 Name: ______________________________________ Core: ________________
Date: __________________

5 -- 4 -- 3 -- 2 -- Did not
CATEGORY
Exemplary Competent Satisfactory complete
Complete and Complete work in Completes the work Incomplete work in
thorough work in each assigned but explanations each assigned
each assigned station. Shows good may be unclear or station, very little
station. Shows understanding of all incorrect, average understanding of the
Part 1: Charles excellent processes, most understanding of all material on each
Darwin & Natural understanding of all questions are processes, some station, missing
processes, correct answered correctly, answers to answers, or did not
Selection answers to stays mostly on task questions are finish section.
questions, and stays with chromebook missing or wrong,
on task with stays mostly on task
chromebook with chromebook
Complete and Complete work in Completes the work Incomplete work in
thorough work in each assigned but explanations each assigned
each assigned station. Shows good may be unclear or station, very little
station. Shows understanding of all incorrect, average understanding of the
excellent processes, most understanding of all material on each
Part 2: Variations understanding of all questions are processes, some station, missing
processes, correct answered correctly, answers to answers, or did not
answers to stays mostly on task questions are finish section.
questions, and stays with chromebook missing or wrong,
on task with stays mostly on task
chromebook with chromebook
Complete and Complete work in Completes the work Incomplete work in
thorough work in each assigned but explanations each assigned
each assigned station. Shows good may be unclear or station, very little
station. Shows understanding of all incorrect, average understanding of the
excellent processes, most understanding of all material on each
Part 3: understanding of all questions are processes, some station, missing
Overproduction processes, correct answered correctly, answers to answers, or did not
answers to stays mostly on task questions are finish section.
questions, and stays with chromebook missing or wrong,
on task with stays mostly on task
chromebook with chromebook
Complete and Complete work in Completes the work Incomplete work in
thorough work in each assigned but explanations each assigned
each assigned station. Shows good may be unclear or station, very little
station. Shows understanding of all incorrect, average understanding of the
excellent processes, most understanding of all material on each
Part 4: understanding of all questions are processes, some station, missing
Competition processes, correct answered correctly, answers to answers, or did not
answers to stays mostly on task questions are finish section.
questions, and stays with chromebook missing or wrong,
on task with stays mostly on task
chromebook with chromebook
Complete and Complete work in Completes the work Incomplete work in
thorough work in each assigned but explanations each assigned
each assigned station. Shows good may be unclear or station, very little
station. Shows understanding of all incorrect, average understanding of the
excellent processes, most understanding of all material on each
Part 5: Bird understanding of all questions are processes, some station, missing
Beaks processes, correct answered correctly, answers to answers, or did not
answers to stays mostly on task questions are finish section.
questions, and stays with chromebook missing or wrong,
on task with stays mostly on task
chromebook with chromebook