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Topic
Resource Type
Description
In this activity, students make claims about different niche partitioning mechanisms based on scientific data.
The activity begins with students interpreting a graph about dietary niche partitioning by grazers on the African savanna. Students then watch two short videos, one on niche partitioning and the other on DNA metabarcoding, and answer questions to apply what they have learned.
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 graphs and explain trends in the data.
- Explain how behavior that benefits populations involves timing and coordination of activity.
- Describe different mechanisms of niche partitioning.
- Evaluate a classical understanding of niche partitioning in light of new data.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
fundamental niche, herbivore, realized niche
Primary Literature
Du Toit, Johan T., and Han Olff. “Generalities in grazing and browsing ecology: using across-guild comparisons to control contingencies.” Oecologia 174, 4 (2014): 1075–1083. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-013-2864-8.
Kartzinel, Tyler R., Patricia A. Chen, Tyler C. Coverdale, David L. Erickson, W. John Kress, Maria L. Kuzmina, Daniel I. Rubenstein, et al. “DNA metabarcoding illuminates dietary niche partitioning by African large herbivores.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, 26 (2015): 8019–8024. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1503283112.
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-2; SEP4
AP Biology (2019)
IST-1.P, IST-5.A, ENE-4.B; SP2, SP4, SP6
IB Biology (2016)
C.1
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 1.1
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.A, SP1, SP2
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
2.1
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9–12.7, ELA.RST.9–12.9
Math.S-ID.3; MP2
Vision and Change (2009)
CC5; DP2