Hurricanes and Anole Lizards
Assessment
This assessment utilizes the real-world, rapid natural selection event documented by researchers on the islands of Turks and Caicos. Following back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes in 2017, scientists captured a rare generational shift in the physical traits - specifically toepad surface area - of the native lizard, Silver Key anole (Anolis scriptus). Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Organize and graph the numerical distributions of the lizards' physical traits before and after the environmental disruption. 2. Apply mathematical thinking to calculate exactly how the population's trait averages shifted across generations. 3. Construct a scientific explanation using your data patterns as evidence to determine whether these extreme hurricanes drove a permanent evolutionary change.
In 2017, scientists visited the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos to measure a small native lizard called the Silver Key anole (Anolis scriptus). Just days after they finished gathering their data, Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the islands back-to-back with powerful, destructive winds. Recognizing a rare opportunity, researchers returned a few weeks later to find and measure the surviving lizards. Eighteen months later, they returned once more to measure the next generation of offspring born after the storms. In this assessment, you will act as the lead researcher analyzing data from these three different time periods. Then, you will use evidence to write a scientific explanation. Click Next to get started!
Topics and standards: Life Science, Evolution, LS4.C, HS-LS4-3, LS4.B, Natural Selection, Analyzing & Interpreting Data, Patterns, Grades 9-12, 3D Science Tasks, Analyze & Interpret, Tuva Assessment Tasks, BIO1-LS4-2, Assessment, BIO.4.3, 3.1.9-12.U