Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Analyzing Data on Tuskless Elephants

Bar graph taken from the resource

Topic

  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Population Genetics
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
38 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

Description

This data-driven activity accompanies the video Selection for Tuskless Elephants. It engages students in analyzing data to make evidence-based claims about the occurrence of tusklessness in elephant populations.

By watching segments of this video, students will follow the analyses and discoveries of Joyce Poole, a scientist who has studied elephants for many years. Students will then analyze data to investigate the impact of human activity, namely poaching, on elephant populations.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Analyze quantitative data in order to make predictions based on evidence.
  • Use evidence-based predictions to explain how a population changes over time due to human impacts.
  • Explain how the selective pressures on a population may impact the frequencies of phenotypes.
  • Propose a claim supported by scientific evidence to answer a research question.
  • Determine whether scientific results confirm or contradict a hypothesis.
  • Provide evidence-based reasoning that uses available data to support a scientific claim.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

adaptation, claim, evidence, frequency, phenotype, poaching, population, reasoning, selection, selective pressure, variation

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 10.05.18
Date Updated 04.22.22

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5; SEP1, SEP5, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.E, EVO-1.G, SYI-2.B, SYI-3.D; SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.3

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.1, 2.6, 9.10
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.A, ERT-2.H, EIN-4.C, SP5, SP6

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 3.4

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7, ELA.WHST.9-12.1
Math.N-Q.A.1, Math.N-Q.A.3, Math.S-IC.3; MP2, MP3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5; DP1, DP2

Materials

Google Resource Folder (link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 464 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 540 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 534 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 733 KB

Additional Materials

calculator (optional)

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Selection for Tuskless Elephants

Related Science News

Why no tusks? Poaching tips scales of elephant evolution

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Elephants

Showing of
Photo of elephant without tusks
Phenomenal Images
Mystery of the Missing Tusks
Image from the film of a survey plane flying over land.
Click & Learn
Survey Methods
Image from the interactive of poached elephant tusks
Click & Learn
CSI Wildlife
Image from the activity
Data Points
Using Genetic Evidence to Identify Ivory Poaching Hotspots
Image from the interactive showing outlines of two elephants.
Click & Learn
How Animals Use Sound to Communicate
Photo of elephants in the wild
Lessons
Using Data to Investigate Elephant Evolution
Photo of an elephant
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Tuskless Elephants
Overhead photo of researchers taking measurements of an anesthetized elephant
Scientists at Work
The Genetics of Tusklessness in Elephants
A herd of elephants, none of which have tusks
Scientists at Work
Selection for Tuskless Elephants
Photo of an elephant
Interactive Videos
Interactive Case Study for Studying Elephant Communication
Image from the film of a group of elephants
Scientists at Work
Studying Elephant Communication
Image from the film of elephants by a body of water
Scientists at Work
The Great Elephant Census

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Photo of a researcher looking at a computer
Lessons
Allele and Phenotype Frequencies in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Diagram from the activity
Card Activities
Color Variation Over Time in Rock Pocket Mouse Populations
Image of a lizard from the activity
Card Activities
Look Who's Coming for Dinner: Selection by Predation
Screenshot of mouse fur evolution animation
Lessons
Developing an Explanation for Mouse Fur Color
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Battling Beetles
Photos of different colored mice on different colored terrains
Lessons
What Causes Different Fur Colors?
Photo of a pocket mouse being held by a researcher
Film Activities
Activity for Natural Selection and Adaptation
Computer image of a light and dark mouse on cooled lava
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population
A light colored pocket mouse on light colored lava.
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Natural Selection and Adaptation

This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

Showing of
Teaching an Online Introductory Biology Lab Using Evolution and Ecology Resources
20 Resources
By: BioInteractive
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility