Biogeography: Unraveling the Story of Life's Distribution

Biology Grades High School 1:50 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the fascinating field of biogeography and discover how the distribution of species across the globe is shaped by evolution, continental drift, and island formation.

Video Resource

Biogeography: Where Life Lives

NOVA PBS Official

Duration: 1:50
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Biogeography
  • Continental Drift
  • Adaptive Radiation
  • Phylogenetic Trees

Learning Objectives

  • Define biogeography and explain its importance in understanding species distribution.
  • Describe how continental drift has influenced the distribution of organisms.
  • Explain how island environments lead to adaptive radiation and speciation.
  • Interpret phylogenetic trees to trace the movement of organisms across the planet.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about the distribution of plants and animals around the world. Introduce the concept of biogeography as the study of this distribution. Show the NOVA PBS video 'Biogeography: Where Life Lives' to provide an overview of the topic.
  • Continental Drift and Biogeography (15 mins)
    Discuss how the breakup of Pangaea influenced the distribution of species. Show a map of Pangaea and how the continents drifted apart. Ask students to consider how this separation might have led to the evolution of different species on different continents. Relate the distribution of Parana pine in South America to its relatives in the tropical Pacific as mentioned in the video.
  • Island Biogeography and Adaptive Radiation (20 mins)
    Focus on island biogeography. Explain how islands are often colonized by a small number of species, leading to adaptive radiation. Use the examples of the finches of the Galápagos Islands, the birds of paradise of Papua New Guinea, and the honeycreepers of Hawaii from the video. Discuss the different beak shapes of the finches and how they are adapted to different food sources. Explain that adaptive radiation is a process where a single ancestral species diversifies into a variety of forms to fill different ecological niches.
  • Phylogenetic Trees and Biogeography (10 mins)
    Explain how phylogenetic trees can be used to trace the movement of organisms across the planet. Discuss how evolutionary relationships can provide clues about the origin and dispersal of species. Use simple examples to show students how to interpret phylogenetic trees.
  • Conclusion (5 mins)
    Summarize the main points of the lesson and emphasize the interconnectedness of evolution, geography, and the distribution of life on Earth. Assign the interactive exercise or discussion questions for homework.

Interactive Exercises

  • Island Biogeography Simulation
    Use an online simulation (if available) or create a hypothetical scenario where students model the colonization of a new island by different species. Students can predict how different species will evolve and interact over time, considering factors like resource availability and competition. (You can use the evolution lab URL provided in the original description)
  • Create a Phylogenetic Tree
    Provide students with data on several related species, including their geographic locations and key characteristics. Have them construct a simple phylogenetic tree to illustrate the evolutionary relationships and dispersal patterns of these species.

Discussion Questions

  • How does the concept of continental drift explain the presence of similar species on different continents?
  • Why are island environments hotspots for adaptive radiation and speciation?
  • How can biogeography inform our understanding of conservation efforts?
  • How do humans impact biogeographical patterns, and what are the consequences?

Skills Developed

  • Critical Thinking
  • Data Interpretation
  • Scientific Reasoning
  • Model Building

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following best defines biogeography?

Correct Answer: The study of the distribution of organisms across the globe.

Question 2:

What geological phenomenon significantly influenced the distribution of species by separating landmasses?

Correct Answer: Continental drift

Question 3:

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed millions of years ago?

Correct Answer: Pangaea

Question 4:

What evolutionary process often occurs on islands, leading to the diversification of a single ancestral species into many new forms?

Correct Answer: Adaptive radiation

Question 5:

The finches of the Galapagos Islands are an example of:

Correct Answer: Adaptive Radiation

Question 6:

Which of the following is used to reconstruct the movements of organisms across the planet?

Correct Answer: Phylogenetic trees

Question 7:

The honeycreepers of Hawaii are an example of:

Correct Answer: A species that diversified into an array of species found nowhere else on Earth.

Question 8:

Why are islands often colonized by a small number of species?

Correct Answer: Because islands are geographically isolated, making it difficult for organisms to reach them.

Question 9:

The presence of closely related plants in South America and the tropical Pacific is evidence of:

Correct Answer: Continental drift

Question 10:

Which of the following factors does NOT influence biological diversity?

Correct Answer: Lack of mutations.

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

__________ is the study of how animals, plants, and other organisms have come to occupy the places on the globe that they do.

Correct Answer: Biogeography

Question 2:

The supercontinent that existed millions of years ago is called ___________.

Correct Answer: Pangaea

Question 3:

The process where a single species diversifies into a variety of forms to fill different ecological niches is called __________.

Correct Answer: Adaptive radiation

Question 4:

The __________ of the Galapagos Islands are a classic example of adaptive radiation.

Correct Answer: Finches

Question 5:

__________ trees are used to reconstruct the movements of organisms across the planet.

Correct Answer: Phylogenetic

Question 6:

The Hawaiian __________ are a group of birds that have undergone extensive adaptive radiation.

Correct Answer: Honeycreepers

Question 7:

Species living along the edges of continents were __________ when the continents drifted apart.

Correct Answer: Split

Question 8:

Seeds and insects and small animals can be blown over on the ___________ to new islands.

Correct Answer: Winds

Question 9:

The Parana pine in South America has close relatives that grow in the __________ Pacific.

Correct Answer: Tropical

Question 10:

Evolution has helped organisms __________ to new environments.

Correct Answer: Adapt

Educational Standards

B.LS4.1:Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. B.LS4.2:Construct an explanation based on evidence that biological diversity is influenced by (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. B.LS4.4:Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

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