Learning+Experience+8+The+Diversity+of+Life

= Learning Experience 8: The Diversity of Life = Objectives ** Driving Questions **
 *  Students examine examples of vertical evolution and divergent speciation.
 * Students determine that biodiversity results from speciation, which results from geographic and reproductive isolation.
 * Students compare patterns of mammal, bird and tree diversity, and speculate about what the reasons for these patterns might be.
 * Students correlate these patterns to the geography, latitude and climate of different regions.
 * How do new species of organisms arise?


 * Setting the Context **
 * Students examine a diagram of diversity and brainstorm its meaning
 *  Students read “New Species” from E.O. Wilson’s //The Diversity of Life//, which describes the evolutionary forces that lead to speciation.


 * Experimenting and Investigating **
 *  Students analyze patterns of species richness in North and Central America

Reading: New Species Analysis p564 #1-5 Mapping the Gradient across the Americas Analysis p565 #1-5