Objective: Demonstrate an understanding of the influence evolution has over the characteristic of organisms
• Demonstrate an understanding of how environmental factors influence evolution
• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between natural and sexual selection
• Demonstrate an understanding of sexual dimorphism, why it occurs, and how it impacts survival
• Apply your knowledge of the forces of selection to an animal in a specific environment and predict a
logical outcome
You must create a male and female of the animal. There must be 2 traits that exhibit sexual dimorphism. (ie.
There must be 2 differences between the male and female)
Picture must be in color, on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and must fill up the assigned area on the outline or
take up ½ of the page if you create it on a separate sheet.
You may scan the image or take a clear photograph of it and add it to a word document.
2. Natural Selection
a. Obtaining Food
i. Name 1 characteristic that helps your organism find or obtain food
ii. Describe how this characteristic helps your organism find or obtain food
b. Defensive Characteristic
i. Name 1 characteristic that helps you organism protect itself from attack
ii. Describe how this characteristic helps your organism protect itself from attack
c. Habitat Adaptations
i. Name 1 characteristic that helps your organism survive in its native climate/habitat
ii. Describe how this characteristic helps your organism survive in its native climate/habitat
3. Sexual Selection:
a. Male Characteristic
i. Name one trait/behavior that is shown only in the male of your organism
ii. Is the trait used for female choice or in male-male competition?
iii. Why is this trait useful for determining male fitness?
b. Female Characteristic
i. Name one trait/behavior that is shown only in the female of your organism
ii. Explain why females have the trait and males do not
c. Additional Characteristic
i. Name one additional trait that is due to sexual selection – it is not required to be
sexually dimorphic
ii. Explain how the third trait increases the reproductive success of your organism
**Not all traits that are due to sexual selection require a strong dimorphism (think
communication, etc)
Part 4: Post Assessment (20 points)
You will need to complete an Assessment in which you will be assigned a random environment. You will have to
assess the environment and decide if your animal will be able to survive, answering the following questions