Unit 4: Impacts of Environmental Change on Organisms: Horses part of Changing Biosphere
Camille Holmgren, SUNY Buffalo State University
In this unit, students will gain a deep-time perspective on how life evolves on a dynamic planet. They will use the Equidae (horse family) as a case study to examine the relationship among climate, biomes, and ...

Evolution of Whales part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Mitchell Colgan, College of Charleston
The students read two articles on the evolution of whales and search the web. The students' writing assignment requires them to outline the evolution of whales using major fossil finds. Students start with ...

Constructing Phylogenetic Trees: The Whippo Story part of Merlot Biology Pedagogic Collection:Interactive Lectures:Examples
Scott Cooper, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
An interactive lecture in which students use data on feeding habits and habitat, skeletons, and DNA sequences to draw phylogenetic trees. -

Simple Mendelian Genetics: An interactive lecture using "DNA from the Beginning" part of Merlot Biology Pedagogic Collection:Interactive Lectures:Examples
Jeff Bell, California State University-Chico
An interactive lecture that uses flash animations showing the researcher and their experiments that were used to develop the basic concepts in Mendelian genetics. Includes multiple choice questions students can ...

Darwin and the Galapagos Islands part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Mitchell Colgan, College of Charleston
In this assignment the students read the Chapter 17 "Galapagos Archipelago" from The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin, and they examine a website about the Galapagos Islands. The students answer two ...

Evolution, Natural Selection and Speciation part of Merlot Biology Pedagogic Collection:Conceptual Models:Examples
Scott Cooper, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
In this out of class tutorial, students explore several examples of natural selection and speciation.

Extinction: Is it inevitable? part of Pedagogy in Action:Library:Using Issues to Teach Science:Examples
Susan Musante, HHMI
Students read an article titled "The Sixth Extinction" by Niles Eldredge on past mass extinctions and the current rate of loss of species. The instructor can choose from a suite of activities which include having students respond to discussion and extension questions about the article, write an essay on the article defending Eldredge's view, create an extinction chart, and debate the actions of stakeholders faced with an endangered species vs. human water needs scenario. Students will need to research additional references to complete the activities and be prepared to defend their positions.