Purpose of this project The purpose of this project was all based on researching a specific endangered species and learning what the species has to offer as well as pinpointing the reason for its near extinction. The final piece was finding solutions and ways to solve for this extinctions, weather it is already existing, or un-suggested. We focused on a few main concepts, which will be described further down on this page.
concepts
Evolution - Evolution is the adaptations or change in biological populations over time. The hellbender is a prime example of evolution because it is considered to be in a somewhat in between a land and water animal.
Artificial selection - Artificial selection is when the desired traits specific members of a species possesses is artificially made prominent. As a species, Hellbenders have not undergone any artificial selection to this date.
Natural selection - Natural selection is when advantageous adaptations a members of a species possesses helps them thrive in their environment. Once these traits begin becoming more common in the species, me mbers without the trait will die out. Hellbenders have adapted from fish. Over time, they have developed traits that make them able to actively live on land or in the water.
Biodiversity - the variations of life in a particular ecosystem. The hellbender shares its habitat with many other inhabitants. Speciation - through the course of time, an evolution and formation of a new species. The hellbender began its evolution as a fish a slowly evolved into a land/water species.
Types of speciation - alo
Survival of the fittest - when the members of a species evolve with advantageous traits and these traits thrive through evolution, while other members without the trait die out. We see this with the hellbender, because the members who are currently in existence are the fittest of their species and contain any and all advantageous traits passed down from their ancestors.
Extincion - reduction of a species until they no longer exist. The hellbender may experience extinction if we don’t make rapid changes to our use of their resources, making it an endangered species.
Gene pool - the composition of different genes in an interbreeding population.
Mutation - the changing structure of a gene. As a species, the hellbender experienced a great number of mutations when going from water to land animal.
Gene flow - A transfer of genetic variation from one population to another.
Shrinking population - A rapid decrease in population. The hellbender has experienced a shrinking population in recent years.
Non-random mating - when the probability that two individuals in a population will mate is not the same for all possible pairs of individuals. The hellbender instinctually engage non-random mating.
Adaptation - a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment. We see fossils/proof of the genetic changes the hellbender has underwent.
Reflection I really enjoyed working on this project, I had a productive group who worked very hard and was willing to hear my ideas. We came across some struggles but managed to prevail. I think throughout this project, I should have taken more of a lead. I tend to be more on the passive aggressive side and it's hard for me to take charge. I also think I should have listened to my team more. I often disregarded the ideas of a member of my team when I should have at least tried to see where his ideas were coming from. Over all, I really enjoyed this project and learned a lot in the process.