Name:

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? 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?
Undergrond’s 150-year history
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2. Which evolutionary process did the new subspecies of mosquito achieve in
the subway tunnels?
“Reproductive Isolation,” or barriers to reproduction with different
species, in the subway tunnels

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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 A mysterious invasion of the mosquitoes was found in 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?
The difference between the two is above ground Culex pipiens bit only
birds and Culex pipiens molestus had a taste for human blood

2. What are three traits that are unique to the Culex pipiens molestus?
1 They are birds biting, they need blood to lay eggs and require a lot of
space to mate

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?
Breed with other mosquitoes

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?
Scientists say that it might have taken a few hundred generations

7. What could be an alternative explanation for the origin of Culex pipiens

molestus?
It could have been brought in from the freight and fruit movement
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8. Why does Reznick feel that London is the birthplace of the Culex pipiens
molestus?
There’s a number of genetic factors that suggest the underground

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 mosquitos were first involved in London

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.
Unlike the London Underground mosquito, the marine and freshwater
sticklebacks do not have such a distinct physical barrier between them

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?
The process by which animals evolve into a completely new species from each other

4. How is reproductive isolation evidence for the speciation of the mosquito population?
Reproductive Isolation or barriers to reproduction with different species, in the
subway tunnels

5. What are the key adaptations (advantageous traits) unique to the underground mosquito
compared to the above ground mosquitos?
They are two new species of each other

6. Would it have been possible for the mosquitos to speciate if they weren’t geographically
isolated? Explain why.
Yes, because they could eventually be separated above the ground

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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.

It is my opinion that humans drive speciation as well as extinction in organisms because the
text stated that the tunnels were largely sealed off. In “Article B Section #2” is stated that
“After underground systems construction, the tunnels were largely sealed off from the
surface, and some mosquitoes found themselves trapped underground.” Based on this
evidence it is shown that humans drive speciation as well as extinction in organisms.

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
● Founder Effect