Lord Howe Island - Simulated Speciation

Lord Howe Island - Simulated Speciation

Lesson 3 of 4 in this unit

  • Secondary
  • Year 9 - 10
  • Science
  • Environmental
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Land Management
  • ...

Lesson summary

Speciation occurs when part of a population is reproductively isolated from the rest of the population (e.g. they do not interbreed), and over time become genetically unique. Their genetics become so different to the original population that if the two populations were reintroduced they either would not mate, or if they did, they would not produce viable offspring.

Lord Howe Island is one of few places where evidence of both allopatric and sympatric speciation has been found. Evidence for sympatric speciation can be more difficult to find, but has been documented on Lord Howe Island in two species of Howea palm, Howea Belmoreana and Howea Forsteriana.

In this fascinating, engaging biology lesson, students are guided through a model of speciation, taking an ancient flora or fauna from mainland Australia and thinking critically and creatively to apply selection pressures from a new environment and predict what traits will be magnified over many generations.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

  • understand the elements required for speciation to occur
  • understand how different environments provide selective pressures on organisms
  • understand how adaptations help organisms survive in their environment
  • understand how to identify traits that will be advantageous for specific environments.

Success criteria:

Students can...

  • apply their knowledge of adaptations and phenotypic traits to an organism to determine how a new environment would affect it
  • predict which traits will be advantageous and will magnify over many generations.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson Plan
Student Worksheet
Teacher Content Info

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 10 Science:

  • The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence (ACSSU185)

Syllabus outcomes: SC5-14LW

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Relevant parts of Year 10 Science achievement standards: Students evaluate the evidence for scientific theories that explain the origin of the universe and the diversity of life on Earth. They explain the processes that underpin heredity and evolution.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work Lord Howe Island – Years 8 & 10

Time required: 85+ mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Facilitate a video analysis and class discussion, supervise groups and provide guidance during the activity

Resources required

Skills

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Collaboration

Additional info

If you would like to access additional information about Joshua Yeldham and the photographs of his wonderful exhibition 'Providence'. Please visit the Arthouse Gallery website: Joshua Yeldham - Providence (arthousegallery.com.au/exhibitions/joshua_yeldham/providence) and the artist's website: Joshua Yeldham (www.joshuayeldham.com.au) for exhibitions and his wonderful book: Surrender (joshuayeldham.com.au/the-books). Providence and Surrender were completed during and after his Artist Residency on Lord Howe Island and during his stay at the Capella Lodge (capellalodge.com.au) on Lord Howe Island. 

lesson saved in resources

Save

Download

Share

More from this unit

See all
See all

Related content

Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading content...