Evolution
What term refers to the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?
Natural Selection
In general, what is an independent variable?
What is infiltration?
When water soaks into the soil
What do mussels eat?
Algae, bacteria.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short term and climate is long term
What is the name of the scientist developed the theory of evolution by natural selection and wrote On the Origin of Species in 1859.
Charles Darwin
Controlled variable
Is infiltration or runoff better for the environment?
Infiltration is better for the environment
Mussels and fish have a _______ relationship:
a) Mutualistic
b) Parasitic
c) Commensalistic
d) Predator/Prey
B) Parasitic
Why is carbon dioxide considered a greenhouse gas?
What is the name of the location where the finches that inspired the theory of evolution live.
The Galapagos Islands
Identify the dependent variable in this experiment: A scientist wants to determine if the amount of sleep students get impacts their performance in school.
The students' performance in school
In 2025, there is much more runoff compared to in 1825. Why is this?
More roads, parking lots. More impermeable surfaces in general.
What are baby mussels called?
Glochidia
Why has the amount of carbon in the atmosphere increased in the past 80 years?
Because humans have been burning fossil fuels for energy
What are the three necessary conditions for natural selection to occur?
Variation, selective pressure, and a heritable trait
Identify one of the controlled variables in this experiment:
A scientist wants to determine if students perform better academically when given fresh fruit at lunch. The scientist gave half of the school's 9th graders fresh fruit at lunch, and did not give any to the other half of 9th graders. He monitored their grades in their after lunch classes.
All students were 9th graders, or all students were at the same school, looked at the after lunch classes.
How does runoff harm the environment?
It pollutes waterways (rivers, streams, etc.). It causes erosion.
What does it mean if many mussels close their shells at the same time?
There is a toxin/pollutant in the water
What is an example of something that has happened as a result of climate change?
Many possible answers- increased flooding, more heat waves, more extreme storms, more wildfires
Lamarck's theory of evolution was proven incorrect. Explain what his theory was and why it is wrong.
The theory of aquired characteristics- that traits developed during an organism's life are passed on. DNA disproves this theory.
Scientists collect data from Bladensburg High School. They notice that students who play sports have higher GPAs, on average. They conclude that playing a sport causes students to have better grades. What is the flaw in this experiment?
Correlation does NOT mean causation. Those students with better grades are the ones allowed to play sports.
If you want to decrease the amount of runoff in a watershed, what can you do?
Plant trees/plants. Replace impermeable pavement with permeable pavement.
Freshwater mussels were overharvested in the past. What was the main reason why people wanted freshwater mussels?
To use their shells to make buttons
Besides carbon dioxide, what is another greenhouse gasses?
Methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor