Name: Jasmine Castillo

PT 6.2: Speciation Case Study

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Learning Target
(HS-LS4-5) I can evaluate evidence that changes in the environment may lead to
larger populations, new species, or extinction.

Guiding Questions
What environmental factors were necessary for speciation to occur among
the mosquito population?
How did this impact the mosquito’s chances of survival?

Background
A species is defined as a population or group of populations whose
members interbreed and produce fertile offspring. The changes in the
environment, which can come from natural or human causes, can
contribute to the increase of a species’ populations, the creation of
new species, or the decline and eventual extinction of a species.

Case Study - When the London underground tunnels were being constructed in the 19th
century, some above-ground mosquitos migrated underground and adapted to a subterranean
environment. Research articles will present evidence of how the changes in their environment
eventually led to a new species of underground mosquito that is unable to breed with the
above-ground mosquitoes. You will develop your own argument as to how a new species of
mosquitoes emerged.

Task 1 - Vocab Review

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions. Refer to your PT 6.2 notes for the answers.

1. Genetic variation within a population is referred to as what? The gene pool

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 2. Gene flow is the movement of ______ from one population to alleles
another.

3. What is another word for gene flow? migration

4. Genetic drift increases genetic diversity. (TRUE/FALSE) false

5. What is the term for when two or more species arise from one speciation
existing species?

6. What is the final step of speciation? Reproductive

isolation of
populations

7. Isolation caused by physical barriers. Geographic isolation

8. Isolation caused by time. Temporal isolation

9. Isolation caused by differences in mating. Behavioral isolation

10. The moment of extinction is considered to be the death of the Last individual
_____ ____________ of the species.

Task 2 - Analyzing Case Studies

DIRECTIONS: Read the following case studies (Article A & Article B) and answer the questions
below. You will find the answer to each question in the section stated.

ARTICLE A : The London Underground Has Its Own Mosquito Subspecies

Section Question

1. How did the mosquito subspecies Culex pipiens molestus come about?
They came to be over the undergrounds 150 year history
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2. Which evolutionary process did the new subspecies of mosquito achieve in
the subway tunnels?
Reproductive isolation

3. What is speciation?
the process by which animals evolve into a completely new species
from each other
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4. Why is there doubt that the London Underground is the only subway system
that has a new subspecies of mosquitoes?

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 There was a mysterious invasion of mosquitos found in the new york
sewers

ARTICLE B : The Unique Mosquito that Lives in the London Underground

Section Question
1. What did researcher Katherine Byrne discover to be the key difference
between the Culex pipiens and the isolated Culex pipiens molestus?
She discovered that they were fundamentally different from their
surface-dwelling relatives. The culex pipiens bit only birds and the
culex pipiens molestus had a taste for human blood.

1 2. What are three traits that are unique to the Culex pipiens molestus?
There are hundreds/thousands of types of them.
They hibernate in the winter.
They need blood to lay their eggs.

3. Over time, the mosquitoes developed new behaviors and features as a

result of their environment. These changes are known as ________________.
adaptation

4. As a result of isolation over many generations, the Culex pipiens molestus

are no longer able to do what?
They can no longer interbreed with other mosquitos

5. The tunnels were sealed off, creating a physical barrier and thereby
reproductive isolation. What type of evolution occurred as a result?
Divergent evolution
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6. Evolution usually happens slowly. How long did it take for the speciation of
London mosquitoes to occur and why did it happen so fast?
It could have taken just a few hundred generations. It happened so fast
because adaptation happens.

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 7. What could be an alternative explanation for the origin of Culex pipiens
molestus?
They were made from different kinds of mosquitos but just adapted to
certain things and had some of their traits.
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8. Why does Reznick feel that London is the birthplace of the Culex pipiens
molestus?
Because he sampled 12 surface mosquitos and compared them to
underground and overground.

9. Fill in the blanks: “ A few hundred years in the _________________

_________________ can form a new _________________ ,” says Reznick.

Right circumstances Species

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10. Is a physical barrier necessary to speed up the process of speciation? Give
an example of an organism that is proof of this.
The marine stickleback fish

Task 3 - Reflection Questions

1. The mosquitoes in London’s underground became a new species. TRUE/FALSE
true

2. Going underground and drifting out to sea are examples of isolation. TRUE/FALSE
true

3. What environmental factors were necessary for speciation to occur among the mosquito
population?
Divergent evolution

4. How is reproductive isolation evidence for the speciation of the mosquito population?
They couldn't get to their mates so, they had to do what they had to do to populate
and mate with other mosquitos making new species.

5. What are the key adaptations (advantageous traits) unique to the underground mosquito
compared to the above ground mosquitos?
The underground mosquitos are distinct so they no longer interbreed with other
mosquitos

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 6. Would it have been possible for the mosquitos to speciate if they weren’t geographically
isolated? Explain why.
Yes, I think they would have been able to speciate if they weren’t geographically
isolated. Their first instincts are to mate and make eggs, they would have adapted
just like other mosquitos and mated with a different kind of mosquito.

Task 4 - Writing Prompt

Directions: Research the answer then write 2-3 paragraphs (5-7 sentences each) that
answers the following question:
How do humans drive speciation as well as extinction in organisms?

YOU MUST CITE YOUR SOURCE(S)!! Be sure to include links to websites where you gathered your
information at the end of your paragraph.

Humans drive speciation in three different ways such as relocation, domestication, and
hunting and novel ecosystem creation. Humans often cause different species to adapt or make
natural selection happen. Humans often relocate or find different lands to build on which
makes certain species be geographically isolated, divergent isolated, and reproductively
isolated, not allowing them to mate or connect with each other. This makes it harder for the
species to populate more and can lead to extinction. We are often the problem to many
species going extinct.
The many different kinds of genes a species can have can also cause problems or their
behavior. This can cause a genetic drift in their species. We domesticate many different kinds
of animals and make them into “pets” or “companions”. The more we close off certain areas to
animals, hunt, or build new houses (cities) etc, makes all species have more of a chance to go
into extinction. They have to either adapt or if they can’t they won't be able to produce
anymore.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27358365/#:~:text=Humans%20drive%20rapid%20evolutio
n%20through,the%20number%20of%20observed%20extinctions.

MASTERY RUBRIC AND COMPLETION CHECKLIST

Learning Target
(HS-LS4-5) I can evaluate evidence that changes in the environment may lead to
larger populations, new species, or extinction.

Guiding Questions
1. What factors were necessary for speciation to occur among the mosquito population?
2. How did this impact the mosquito’s chances of survival?

1 Concerns (2) Goal Achieved (3) Exceeded Mastery (4)

(Similar to a C) (Similar to a B or B+) (Similar to an A or A+)
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 1) Topic and Content
A score of 2 means you My argument has a ❏ Real-world examples or
applications used not from the
did everything you were knowledgeable and
class activity.
supposed to but your thoughtful response to ❏ Supported my argument with
answer may have used the learning target(s) and information that was not
some vocabulary guiding question(s). provided in class and cited
incorrectly or your use correctly.
of evidence was unclear 2) Use of Evidence and ❏ Used all score 4 vocabulary.
or missing some Analysis
You need at least 3 boxes
important details. My argument is
checked from the above
supported by
boxes to have a chance at
information from the
earning a grade of 4 if you
provided class resources
got a 3 on everything else.
and class activities.

IMPORTANT! Any information used that is NOT learned from class MUST be
cited or you will have to redo the entire assignment! If you google it, you must
use YOUR OWN WORDS.
Required Vocabulary: If you do not use ALL of the Score 2 words you will get
ZERO CREDIT.

Score 2 Words Score 3 Words Score 4 Words

● Genes ● Reproductive Isolation ● Reproductive Isolation

● Genetic Drift ● Divergent Evolution ● Divergent Evolution
● Speciation ● Geographic isolation ● Geographic isolation
● Species ● Genes ● Natural Selection
● Genetic Drift ● Genes
● Species ● Genetic Drift
● Speciation ● Species
● Speciation
● Alleles