Evidence of work
For this project we looked at species that were near extinction. The animal that my group chose was the giant otter. The giant otter has been listed as endangered since 2000 and its population is continuing to decrease. To present the information that my group found on our animal, we decided to make a slide show and a game.
Game:
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Content
- Evolution- The change of the traits of a species over time. In this project we looked at the evolution of the Giant otter and how it evolved separately form the otters in South America.
- Artificial selection - When humans choose what traits are best for the species. We did not use artificial selection during our extinction project.
- Natural selection- When nature chooses what traits are best for the species. It is what decided how the giant otter was going to evolve.
- Biodiversity- The variety of life on earth. It is what keeps everything from having the same weaknesses and dying to the same things.
- Speciation- When an organism has changed enough so that it is considered a new species. The giant otter evolved from the regular otter and became a new species about 10 million years ago
- Types of speciation- Sympatric, Allopatric
- Sympatric speciation is when it forms within the original population.
- Allopatric speciation is when the species is isolated because of a geological barrier. The giant otter split off and formed a new species because they were separated.
- Survival of the fittest- The population with a beneficial trait will survive and the ones without will die out. The otter with the most beneficial traits against boats will survive longer.
- Extinction- When a species is completely wipe out and do not exist anymore. The giant otter is heading towards extinction.
- Gene pool- All of the different genes within a population. Some traits that are in the gene pool for giant otters can include the size of teeth etc.
- Mutation- The change in the genetic structure.
- Gene flow- A change in the gene pool.
- Shrinking population- When a population shrinks causing a change in the gene pool
- Non-random mating- When a species only mate with one another with a certain trait, causing that trait to be passed down.
- Adaptation- When an organism evolves to fit its environment and survive better.
- Mutation, gene flow, non-random mating, shrinking population, and adaption are all reason that the giant otter has evolved to be how it is.
Reflection
This project overall went pretty well however there were some peaks and pits during the process. One of these peaks is when were were finally able to decide on an animal after going back and forth for an hour. Another peak was when we finally finished the game after trying many different engines and styles of games. However, with these peaks there were also pits. On pit was when we spent an hour trying to decide on how we were going to present the info. Another pit was that we could not figure out how to make the game for 2 days and then finally made it last minute.