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Sorting Finch Species

Launch Interactive
Topic
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Evolution
  • Speciation
Resource Type
  • Interactive Media
  • Click & Learn
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Favorited By
30 Users
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Description

This interactive module allows students to explore concepts related to speciation by identifying which birds belong to one of two finch species.

The 13 species of finches that live in the Galápagos Islands evolved from a single common ancestor within the past 3 million years. Although these species may seem similar, they generally keep to themselves and don’t interbreed. This Click & Learn demonstrates how the finches discriminate between members of their own species and those of a closely related species based on song and appearance.

The accompanying worksheet guides students’ exploration.

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
  • Sort finches into two different groups based on their appearances and songs. 
  • Explain why hybrids may not be as fit as their parent species.
Details
Estimated Time
One to two 50-minute class periods.
Key Terms

beak, cactus finch, Daphne Major, Galápagos, Geospiza, ground finch, hybrid, reproductive isolation, sonogram, spectrogram

Terms of Use

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

Version History
Date Published 11.18.13
Date Updated 05.26.20
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-3, HS-LS4-5; SEP6, SEP7

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.M, EVO-3.D, EVO-3.E, EVO-3.F; SP1, SP2

IB Biology (2016)

5.1 5.4, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.WHST.9-12.9
MP2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5; DP1

Materials
Resource Google Folder (link)
Student Worksheet (PDF) 103 KB
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Sorting Finch Species
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