Question

Extinction vs. Natural Selection Projects

Objective: Students will be able to create a species with specialized
adaptations that will enable the species to survive in a new climate.
Background: It is 100,000 years in the future. Earth's climate has
drastically changed and humans have gone extinct. The polar ice
caps have completely melted and the oceans have risen. Much of
the United States is now underwater, except for the center of the
Continent. The ecosystem consists of mostly grasslands and dessert with
very little fresh water resources. Large carnivorous cats, like mountain
ons, now roam the grasslands. They are specialized hunters who
lend in well with their environment and can easily run and catch
rey. They have long claws that are well adapted to digging. The
temperature during the day on average is 105 ° F. At night the temperature can get below freezing.

Answer 1

It seems like you have described the background and context for a class project where students will create species with specialized adaptations to survive in a future climate scenario. The project will be divided into two parts: Extinction Project and Natural Selection Project. Let's delve into each part and explain them in more detail:

Extinction Project:

Objective: In this part of the project, students will simulate the extinction of existing species that are not able to adapt to the new climate conditions and ecosystem changes.

Instructions:

a. Research and select a few species that are currently existing and may not be well-suited to survive in the future climate scenario described.

b. Create a report or presentation explaining the characteristics and habitats of the selected species.

c. Discuss the challenges these species would face in the future environment and why they may not be able to survive.

d. Reflect on the importance of adaptation and how changes in the environment can lead to the extinction of certain species.

Natural Selection Project:

Objective: In this part of the project, students will design and create a new species with specialized adaptations that enable them to thrive in the described future climate.

Instructions:

a. Imagine and invent a new species that would be well-adapted to the future environment with grasslands, deserts, limited fresh water, and temperature fluctuations.

b. Describe the physical characteristics, behavioral traits, and specialized adaptations of the new species that make it successful in this ecosystem.

c. Create a visual representation or drawing of the new species, showcasing its unique features.

d. Explain the ecological niche of the new species and how it fits into the food chain and interacts with other organisms in the ecosystem.

e. Discuss the concept of natural selection and how the adaptations of the new species give it a competitive advantage for survival.

f. Consider potential challenges the new species might still face and how it may continue to evolve in the future.

By combining both the Extinction Project and the Natural Selection Project, students will gain a better understanding of the impact of environmental changes on existing species and the importance of adaptation for the survival of species in a changing world. This exercise will also encourage creativity and critical thinking among the students as they design a species suited for a specific environment.

~~~Harsha~~~