Blog Archives

Forum 2.5 - Significance of the Wallace Line

9/27/2018

Central Question: Why is the sun so influential in connection to species diversity?

Guiding Thought Question: Based on the homework reading assignment explain what the Wallace Line is and what it tells us about the geological history of Australia and Asia. What evidence is there to support Wallace's theory?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn the connection between latitude and altitude to species diversity and the role the sun has in supporting life on the planet.

4 Comments

Forum 2.4 - Defining Phylogeography

9/23/2018

5 Comments

Central Question: How can we trace the lineage of the current species that we have today back to their centers of origin?

Guiding Thought Question: Based on the Crisci article explain what phylogeography is, what it specifically examines, and how it is able to contribute to the field of biogeography.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the principles of phylogeography and the use of genetics to explain species diversity and present location.

5 Comments

Forum 2.3 - Tobler's Genetics

9/20/2018

6 Comments

Central Question: What effect does physical location have on similarities and differences in species?

Guiding Thought Question: Connect Tobler's First Law of Geography (Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things) to the idea of genetic diversity between plants or animals from the same family.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will work on the methods used to determine common ancestors and link species within a geographic area by constructing a cladogram for the Amazon and then another of their choosing for another region.

6 Comments

Forum 2.2 - Factors Leading to Range Changes

9/18/2018

11 Comments

Central Question: What may cause a species to stay put, or decide to leave its traditional range?

Guiding Thought Question: Use the idea of Tolerance Ranges from the homework article to explain why a species (such as a snow leopard) may suddenly migrate outside their typical range.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will be looking at a number of range theories and associated examples to apply the theories to real-life examples to determine their relevance.

11 Comments

Forum 2.1 - Complications in Plotting Range

9/17/2018

10 Comments

Central Question: How can biogeographers track and communicate where species are located?

Guiding Thought Question: What do you foresee as the biggest complication in determining the range of a particular species and mapping it out?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will work through the process by which species range is plotted and mapped. Students will learn the various cartographic methods that are used to map out species, and then work through the process themselves in mapping out plant species around the school grounds.

10 Comments

Unit I Forum - Pre-Test Questions

9/12/2018

0 Comments

Central Question: How do the principles of physical geography apply to the study of biogeography?

Guiding Thought Question: What questions do you have regarding the content covered?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of concepts related to physical geography and their applications to biogeography by completing a summative evaluation of the unit.

0 Comments

Forum 1.7 - Dangers of Change?

9/10/2018

7 Comments

Central Question: What are the scientific foundations for climate change?

Guiding Thought Question: What is the biggest danger facing humans for inaction against climate change? What is the result and how will humans be impacted?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the natural and human causes for global climate change and how the change can have an effect on the planet's plants and animals.

7 Comments

Forum 1.6 - No Two Lands are the Same

9/5/2018

4 Comments

Central Question: What is the connection between plants and animals with the climate and landscape?

Guiding Thought Question: (Use the images below to help you answer the following question) - Even though two areas may be classified as the same biome why might they have such wildly different plants and animals? What factors will lead to different speciation?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the biogeographic realms and explore their placement and characteristics. Students will examine the spatial distribution of Biomes and their groupings into regions.

Alaskan Rainforest

Costa Rican Rain Forest

4 Comments

Forum 1.5 - Climate Dynamics

9/4/2018

3 Comments

Central Question: What correlation is there between climate, weather, and life? Why will a climate region provide such a stark contrast in life it is able to support?

Guiding Thought Question: Read the description of climate dynamics in the article An Introduction to Climate Systems (Princeton Press) and explain why climate dynamics are such an important topic of study right now, and the types of things that are studied as part of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and lithosphere (land surface).

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the differences between weather and climate, and the implications for the distribution of life on the earth's surface. Students will be able to explain the distribution of climate systems around the planet's surface and the associated indicators that accompany those regions.

3 Comments

Biogeography Forum

Welcome to the Forum! Here is where you will be answering your daily warm-up questions. Please do not enter your last name for privacy reasons, and you may use a nickname if you would like (Just make sure Mr. Tredinnick is aware of the nickname you are using). Write out thoughtful responses to the forums on the days they are assigned. If you miss a day please take it upon yourself to complete the Forum you missed. Each Forum has the targeted Learning Objective(s) there so you can see what the focus of the day's class will be.

Biogeography Forum

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