Session+15

Day 8: Ecological Behavior and Systems  Session #15: Response of Organisms to Environmental Change **Session Leaders:** K. Joy Karnas and ??? FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Investigation #8 (Adaptations)  -    Variation is the range of expression of a feature in a population  -    An adaptation is any trait of a organism that helps it survive and reproduce in its environment  -    Variation in a population helps the population survive when the environment changes FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Investigation #10 (Natural Selection)  -    Environmental factors put selective pressure on populations  -    Natural selection **Other Activities**  -    Minnow adaptation study (From Inquiry Session at ASTE Meeting 2007) **Outline of Activities:** 1.   Multimedia simulation to investigate the adaptive value of protective coloration (FOSS #8) 2.   Explain how adaptations help organisms survive in a specific environment (FOSS #8) 3.   Investigate environmental preference of minnows based on prior adaptation **Rationale:** I was fascinated by this activity at a session that I attended at ASTE. The leader actually divided us into three groups—teacher led, guided inquiry, or open inquiry—to demonstrate the advantages/disadvantages of each form of instruction. The activity involved working with live minnows (a huge hit with elementary school students, a great way to engage them in science) that had been adapted to either a dark or light background. The instructor demonstrated what happened when the fish were transferred from their current environment to one in which there was a choice of dark or light background. We had a brief discussion, and then she gave us materials (different types of holding tanks, stopwatches, etc.) so that we could make sense of what we observed and answer our own questions in regards to the fish’s behavior in response to environmental change. I think this would be a fabulous exercise to run with the teachers—one that they could easily do with their classes. Not only does it illustrate a great concept, but it also allows the students to freely explore the phenomenon and take the project in any number of directions.