Cross-Dressing Salmon Survival of the Sneaky
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- Original Source:National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Conditions of Use:None Specified
Description
This "clicker case" about female mimicry in spawning salmon was developed for an introductory-level, non-majors biology course to help address one of the most common misconceptions that students have about natural selection, namely, that only the "strong" survive and reproduce. Female mimicry is an alternative male reproductive strategy. As observed in spawning salmon, some males assume certain female characteristics that enable them to remain close to reproducing females without being viewed as competition by more dominant males. Students learn about concepts of natural selection, including overproduction and differential reproductive success, as well as patterns of natural selection. The case is presented in class via a PowerPoint presentation (~3MB) that is punctuated by multiple-choice questions students answer using personal response systems ("clickers"). Less
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Topics and Grades
Grade: 9 to 12, Undergraduate to Graduate
Topics: Life Sciences, Professional Development, Evolution and Adaptation
Resource Pedagogy
Resource Type/Classification:
- Teacher Materials
Tool for: Teachers