Lesson summary for...

Evo in the news: Evolving conservation strategies

Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology
Overview:This news brief, from June 2007, explains how biologists are using evolutionary theory to protect the biodiversity that exists today and that may evolve tomorrow.
Concepts:This lesson covers the following concepts:
  • Rates of extinction vary.
  • Speciation is the splitting of one ancestral lineage into two or more descendant lineages.
  • Occupying new environments can provide new selection pressures and new opportunities, leading to speciation.
  • Theories are central to scientific thinking.
  • As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
Grade Level:9-12
Time:15 minutes
Teacher Background:Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson:
Teaching Tips:This article includes a set of discussion and extension questions, as well as links to related lessons that might be used in conjunction with this one.