Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • Classroom Resources
  • Teaching Tools
  • Professional Development
  • Partner Content

Wildlife Overpasses

A photograph of a plant-covered overpass over a highway bordered by forest with mountains in the background.

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Communities
  • Environmental Science
  • Conservation
  • Human Population & Impacts

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Phenomenal Images

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
3 Users
Share This

Description

This activity explores an image of a wildlife overpass crossing a major highway, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about habitat fragmentation and conservation.

A wildlife overpass is a bridge that allows wildlife to move safely over a road. It is one way to reconnect habitats fragmented by human structures and activities. Reconnecting habitats expands the overall area available to wildlife and can support more biodiversity.

The “Educator Materials” document includes background information and implementation suggestions for using the image as a phenomenon. The “Student Handout” includes the image and background information.

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

  • Examine images of phenomena, make observations, and ask questions.
  • Collaborate with peers on ideas, ask questions that require higher levels of reasoning, and develop deeper understanding of concepts.
  • Describe how wildlife overpasses can reconnect habitat fragments and support more species.
     

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

biodiversity, habitat fragmentation, isolation, species-area relationship, wildlife corridor, wildlife crossing

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 04.17.23

NGSS 2013

HS-LS2-7; SEP1

AP Biology 2019

SYI-2.B; SP3

IB Biology 2016

4.1, C.1, C.2, C.3, C.4

AP Environmental Science 2020

Topic(s): 2.1, 2.3, 9.10
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.D, EIN-4.C
 

IB Environmental Systems and Societies 2017

 2.1, 2.2, 3.3, 3.4 

Common Core 2010

ELA.WHST.9-10.9; ELA.WHST.11-12.9

Vision and Change 2009

CC5; DP1

Materials

Download Resource Google Folder (Link)
Download Image (JPG) 2 MB
Download Educator Materials (PDF) 410 KB
Download Student Handout (PDF) 322 KB

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Island Biogeography

Showing of
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Size Impacts Arthropod Species
Graph from the paper
Data Points
Habitat Isolation Impacts Arthropod Species
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Fragmentation Impacts Arthropod Species
Photo of a constructed walkway for animals to cross highways safely
Film Activities
Activity for From Ants to Grizzlies
Graph showing the equilibrium point between immigration and extinction
Lessons
Exploring Island Biogeography through Data
Two bear cubs walking on their hind legs crossing a road
Short Films
From Ants to Grizzlies: A General Rule for Saving Biodiversity
A bar graph comparing the proportions of damaging and benign alleles in wolves from Isle Royale and Minnesota.
Data Points
Inbreeding in Island Wolves

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Photo of a constructed walkway for animals to cross highways safely
Film Activities
Activity for From Ants to Grizzlies
Two bear cubs walking on their hind legs crossing a road
Short Films
From Ants to Grizzlies: A General Rule for Saving Biodiversity
Photo of lions from the video
Scientists at Work
Tracking Lion Recovery in Gorongosa National Park
Image of a researcher touching blades of grass
Scientists at Work
Surveying Gorongosa's Biodiversity
A bee sitting on a flower.
Scientists at Work
The Effects of Fungicides on Bumble Bee Colonies
Cougar graphs from the paper
Data Points
Cougars and Trees in a Trophic Cascade
Image from the activity
Data Points
Vertebrate Declines and the Sixth Mass Extinction
Photo of a person hand-launching a drone plane
Scientists at Work
Mapping the Darién Gap
Image of EO Wilson and Tonga Torcida from the film
Short Films
The Guide: A Biologist in Gorongosa
Image of E.O. Wilson from the film
Film Activities
Activity for The Guide: A Biologist in Gorongosa
HHMI BioInteractive
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Advisors
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility