Final answer:
Mei created a visual dichotomous key using a flowchart, which is a teaching tool for children to identify different species by following a series of choices on the chart leading to the species' identification.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mei most likely made a visual dichotomous key in the form of a flowchart. This type of key is designed to assist in species identification through a series of choices that lead to the correct species.
A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the identification of natural objects, such as plants, animals, or rocks, based on a series of yes/no questions about physical or other traits. It provides two choices at each step, with each choice leading to another question or the identification of the species.
Mei's use of a flowchart for teaching children assumes that a graphical representation would be more engaging and easier for young learners to follow. In using such a key, children compare characteristics of species at the zoo to those listed in the key to narrow down options. Since students need to distinguish between species based on observable characteristics, the dichotomous key includes identification methods that require logical reasoning, just like building a systematic guide for bacterial identification in a lab.