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Moth Mimicry: Using Ultrasound to Avoid Bats

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Zoology
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Scientists at Work

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:10:24
Saved By
18 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This video follows scientists as they uncover the ways in which moth species in Gorongosa National Park use ultrasound to avoid being eaten by bats.

Biologist Jesse Barber of Boise State University was joined by two graduate students in Gorongosa National Park to study bat-moth, predator-prey interactions. They designed several experiments to determine the strategies used by Gorongosa moths to avoid being eaten by bats. Some moths use ultrasound to either jam bats’ sonars or to signal to bats that they taste bad. Barber explains that some of these species are Batesian mimics, because they don’t truly taste bad but mimic the ultrasound of other moths that do, tricking the bats into avoiding them as food.

The accompanying “Student Worksheet” incorporates concepts and information from the video.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Student Learning Targets

  • Learn about research practices.

  • Develop scientific explanations and justify claims using evidence.

  • Analyze and interpret data from a controlled scientific experiment.

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period to complete the associated handouts.

Key Terms

Africa, Gorongosa, scientific methodology, scientific process, sonar

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Video files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 05.10.16
Date Updated 10.19.17

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-4; HS-LS4.C; SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-3.D, ENE-4.B, IST-5.A; SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, A.6

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.1, 9.10

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.1, 3.4

Common Core (2010)

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

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1; DP1, DP2

Materials

Download HD (M4V) 403 MB
Download HD (WMV) 312 MB
Download SD (M4V) 82 MB
Download SD (WMV) 85 MB
Download Transcript (PDF) 218 KB
Download Student Worksheet (PDF) 763 KB
Download Spanish Dub (MP4) 166 MB
Download Transcript - Español (PDF) 210 KB
Download Student Worksheet - Español (PDF) 499 KB

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