a. The term describes living things that are best suited to their environment.
b. Species that survive are the ones that make or meet changes.
c. Florida has a rich record.
d. Two examples of land animal fossils found in Florida are the ________ and the ______.
e. Some animals unable to adapt to the changing environment became ___________.
f. Living things _______________ over time to meet their changing environment.
g. This biologist, __________________, studied evolution in the 1800s.
h. The ________________ was a giant, armadillo-like animal with a spiked tail that once lived in Florida.
i. The Origin of Species is a book written in 1859 about ___________________.
j. Nature selects the fittest for ______________________because they have useful traits.
k. Changes may occur in animals due to changes in the sequence of base pairs in their DNA, and this is known as a __________________.
l. Oldfield mice show ____________________ in the color of their fur.
m. The survival of the light-colored oldfield mice on Florida's Gulf Coast is an example of the process called ________________________.
n. Evolution is a controversial theory that has survived much _________________.

2. Write a micro-theme using and explaining the following terms.

a. "Survival of the fittest"

b. Adaptation

c. Evolution

3. Use the list below to write the correct term for each definition below.

adaptation

extinct

gene

Darwin

fittest

mutation

evolution

fossils

natural selection

_________________________ a. A change in genes that causes a change in a particular trait

_________________________ b. Describes a species that no longer has any living representatives

_________________________ c. A trait that a species develops over generations which helps it to survive

_________________________ d. a unit of DNA that determines a specific trait in the organism

_________________________ e. The survival of organisms best fit for the environment

_________________________ f. Changes in living things over time

_________________________ g. Remains of organisms that lived in the past

_________________________ h. Best suited to survive in its environment

_________________________ i. The biologist who developed and offered evidence of the theory of Natural selection

4. Answer the following using complete sentences.

a. How does genetic variation create new species over time?

b. How does changing the proteins produced in a cell alter what an organism does?

c. In terms of evolution, why do animals that are preyed upon (eaten) likely to have a high number of offspring?

d. Why is it vital that a scientist recognize his or her own biases and that they be open to criticism?

5. We chose to spotlight Florida animals because The Ogburn School is located in Florida. Your next assignment is to conduct an internet search to discover information related to animal diversity. You may choose to research animals in the state you live in. If you live in Florida you may choose to research a Florida endangered species, or one from another state or country. Your research must include the following:

a. species of animal

b. location of animal (state or country)

c. the animal's status (extinct, endangered, threatened, etc.)

d. reason for status (why is animal extinct, endangered, threatened, etc.)

e. type of habitat needed for survival

f. conservation efforts on the animal's behalf

g. prospects for the future of this animal