Lesson Summary: Using trees to understand plants: The work of Chelsea Specht

Lesson summary for... Using trees to understand plants: The work of Chelsea Specht Author/Source: UC Museum of Paleontology

Overview:	This research profile follows scientist Chelsea Specht as she pieces together the evolutionary history of tropical plants and their pollinators--and in the process, tries to figure out how to conserve endangered species.
Concepts:	This lesson covers the following concepts: Rates of extinction vary. Traits that are advantageous often persist in a population. Science is a human endeavor. Classification is based on evolutionary relationships. As with other scientific disciplines, evolutionary biology has applications that factor into everyday life.
Grade Level:	9-12
Time:	30 minutes
Teacher Background:	Explore these links for additional information on the topics covered in this lesson: Classification/Phylogenetics Adaptation Relevance
Teaching Tips:	You might use the guiding questions at the beginning of this article to stimulate class discussion after students have read the article.