Central Question: What impact can the introduction of new species have on an ecosystem?

Guiding Thought Question: While working as a state forestry specialist you notice the growth of a non-native weed start growing in your conservation area. As the weed spreads further local farmers introduce non-native rabbits to the area that are known to feed on the plants to protect their crops from the encroaching weeds, but they quickly multiply and start eating other plants as well, resulting in numbers on non-native rabbits decreasing. How do you address the issue? What recommendations do you make?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will analyze critical effects of the introduction of invasive species on an ecosystem and the distributions of native species by looking at case studies and acting out the introduction 

Central Question: How can other natural forces (Fire and Ice) have an effect on speciation?

Guiding Thought Question: Should humans intervene and interfere in natural events, such as wildfires, or should they allow them to take their course? Explain your reasoning.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will examine the processes through which fire and glaciers can change and develop an ecosystem. 

Central Question: Why are islands such important fields of study in biogeography? 

Guiding Thought Question: Apply the ideas from the article "Effects of Climate Changer on Biodiversity" to explain why  island species especially are so critically endangered due to climate change.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will gain a basic understanding of the importance of islands in their study of biogeography, and the type of work that is being done to understand them better by focusing specifically on the Galapagos and Madagascar.

Central Question: Why is it important to preserve our planet species? Not matter big or small

Guiding Thought Question: In your own words explain what biodiversity is, why it is important, and provide an example to support your point.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn about the ideas of biodiversity and their areas of concern my completing a map lab regarding the topic, then examining specific issues related to biodiversity.

Central Question: How do the process of adaptation influence speciation? 

Guiding Thought Question: Write 2-3 sentences about a particular plant or animal using each of the vocabulary words below in the proper context.

Adaptation - The process of change which a species undergoes to be better suited for its environment.
Adaptive Radiation - The diversification of a species into forms filling different ecological niches.
Specialization - Species that develops a characteristic that better allow them to survive in an area.

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn about the processes of adaptation and their impacts on where species are able to survive by completing a case study of the American Beaver.

Central Question: What role does evolutionary theory have in the distribution of species?

Guiding Thought Question: Especially when dealing with scientific theory, why is the continued collection of evidence and observations going to be important in the defense, and continued understanding of a process?

Today's Learning Objective: Students will learn about the processes, ways to track, and evidence that supports the role of evolution in species distribution by completing the Evolution Lab and a Map Lab looking at topics related to evolutionary biogeography. 

Central Question:What do different evolutionary paths look like and how can we map them?

Guiding Thought Question: Explain one of the things that will complicate determining a specie's Center of Origin. 
     Center of Origins: Geographic location from which a             certain species expanded from. 

Today's Learning Objective: Students will work through a mapping activity to learn about the diffusion of animals and how to trace their evolutionary paths from a common center.