Want to know more about natural selection? Evolution? Extinction? The threat posed by invasive species? How about umbrella and keystone species? We’ve got you covered!

Natural Selection and ExtinctionDownload

Part One

General Questions:

  1. What is a theory? Briefly describe advancements in the theory of evolution and natural selection, specifically by looking at Charles Darwin, Jean Baptiste Lamarck and Alfred Wallace.
  2. Many species, especially ungulates, are susceptible to disease. What are humans doing to stop the spread of disease in wildlife? Is it effective? Can wildlife diseases impact humans? Do any of these diseases pose a long-term threat to a species?
  3. What can Indigenous traditional knowledge add to the understanding of species, especially those that have gone extinct or are endangered?
  4. Research the cultural significance of two species. Are these animals revered or considered a pest? How was the animal used historically? 
  5. Examine grizzly bear numbers in Alberta and British Columbia. What are the similarities? What are the differences? What are the population trends in both provinces? What factors are driving these trends? Is there any controversy or dispute over population numbers? Why?
  6. Were moose ever endangered? If so, why? Did they rebound? Are there any concerns in Canada about our current moose population?
  7. Investigate five extinct species or subspecies that were once found in Canada. When did they go extinct? Why? Where were they located? Were efforts made to protect the species? Is there any chance of reviving the species (with technology or through relocation, if the species is extinct in Canada, but not elsewhere in the world)?
  8. Compare a threatened species with one of least concern. Why do you think this difference exists? What factors contribute to the difference (reproduction rate, food sources, range, lifespan, habitat requirements, proximity to humans)? Are there any issues that might change the status of either species in the future?
  9. How could a decline in the population of a species lead to a lack of genetic diversity with time? What might be the consequence? What strategies exist to combat a lack of genetic diversity in a population?
  10. Look at a specific threat to a specific species in your area. Can you think of a possible solution that would reduce or eliminate that threat? 
  11. How could the decline of a species impact humans? Are there any examples of a species having gone extinct that negatively impacted people?
  12. Find a Canadian example of a species that was re-introduced to a landscape. Was it successful? How much did it cost? Has the reintroduction impacted the broader environment? Why or why not?

Part Two

Answer the following questions about a specific species in your community:

  1. What is the taxonomy of the species you selected to research?
  2. What characteristics have allowed your species to evolve? What gives it an adaptive advantage in your community’s environment?
  3. What do you think will happen to your species in the future as the environment changes? Is it a species that adapts well to change? Or is change a problem for the species?
  4. Is there a member of your species’ family that is endangered or extinct? If there is, what caused it to become endangered or go extinct? What traits do the two species within the same family share? What makes them different?
  5. Create an infographic that outlines the above information and share it with a community group that could use it to raise awareness about biodiversity in your community.