Reading 1 - Summary of Background Research:

Question

The Red Squirrel Project was a field experiment designed to test the importance of the amount of food to the ecology and evolution of red squirrels. In the Yukon, the seed of white spruce cones is a critical food resource for red squirrels. White spruce produces extremely high numbers of cones every 2-6 years with few cones produced in the intervening years. Individual red squirrels were likely to experience both very high and very low levels of food within their lifetime, so scientists had to look for trends. Research performed for almost 30 years has indicated that yearly variation in the abundance of spruce cones had important consequences.

Reading 2 - Summary of Background Research

The southwest Yukon has seen a shift to increasingly warm springs and a slightly drier environment. With red squirrels, the more cones females eat in the fall, the earlier they give birth.

Researchers near Kluane Lake, Canada saw a shift to earlier birthing times over the last 10 years. Birthing time can vary a bit, but the team argues that some of the shift has been narrowed down to a few possible causes.


Your Task

In the questions that follow, you will construct an Your Task

In the questions that follow, you will construct an explanation to determine and then explain factors that lead to changes in the red squirrel population.
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Question 3

Which statement describes the trend from Graph 4 about the frequency and how often the red squirrels give birth.

(1 point)
Responses

A. Births are become less frequent.
A. Births are become less frequent.

B. Births are becoming more frequent.
B. Births are becoming more frequent.

C. Birth are staying the same
C. Birth are staying the same
Question 4
Question 4

Based on the information in Reading 1, Reading 2, Graph 1, Graph 2, and Graph 3 complete each of the sentences describing the change that is occurring and if this change could affect the birth rate of squirrels.


(9 points)
Graph 1 is showing that the average
is
. This
be causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

Graph 2 is showing that the average
is
. This
be causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

Graph 3 is showing that the average
is
. This
be causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

Question 5
Question 5

Complete a CER (Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning) on the impact of environmental changes on red squirrels. Choose one correct answer for each part (A-C).

Part A: Choose your claim.

(1 point)
Responses

A. Environmental changes have no effect on red squirrels.
A. Environmental changes have no effect on red squirrels.

B. Environmental changes have caused red squirrels to reproduce later in the year.
B. Environmental changes have caused red squirrels to reproduce later in the year.

C. Environmental changes have caused red squirrels to reproduce earlier in the year.
C. Environmental changes have caused red squirrels to reproduce earlier in the year.

D. Environmental changes have eliminated red squirrels’ primary food source.
D. Environmental changes have eliminated red squirrels’ primary food source.
Question 6
Part B: Select the evidence to support your claim. (1 point)
Responses

A. The abundance of spruce cones has been decreasing.
A. The abundance of spruce cones has been decreasing.

B. Warmer springs have shifted the timing of white spruce cone production.
B. Warmer springs have shifted the timing of white spruce cone production.

C. Red squirrels have been observed eating a variety of foods, not just cones.
C. Red squirrels have been observed eating a variety of foods, not just cones.

D. Red squirrels were studied near Kluane Lake for over 30 years.
D. Red squirrels were studied near Kluane Lake for over 30 years.
Question 7
Part C: Choose the statement that connects the evidence with the claim.(1 point)
Responses

A. Earlier spruce cone production gives red squirrels more food in the fall, leading to earlier births.
A. Earlier spruce cone production gives red squirrels more food in the fall, leading to earlier births.

B. The timing of spruce cone production affects how red squirrels select nesting sites.
B. The timing of spruce cone production affects how red squirrels select nesting sites.

C. Changes in spruce cone production have no measurable effect on red squirrel reproduction.
C. Changes in spruce cone production have no measurable effect on red squirrel reproduction.

D. Earlier spruce cone production reduces food availability, so red squirrels give birth earlier.explanation to determine and then explain factors that lead to changes in the red squirrel population.

Question 1

Scientists in Canada study the availability of the Red Squirrel’s food supply. Food availability is impacting the birth rates of the Red Squirrel, with surprising consequences. Select the text that explains what is unusual about the Red Squirrel’s food supply.

(3 points)
Responses

The Red Squirrel Project was a field experiment designed to test the importance of the amount of food to the ecology and evolution of red squirrels.
The Red Squirrel Project was a field experiment designed to test the importance of the amount of food to the ecology and evolution of red squirrels. - no response given

Individual red squirrels were likely to experience both very high and very low levels of food within their lifetime, so scientists had to look for trends.
Individual red squirrels were likely to experience both very high and very low levels of food within their lifetime, so scientists had to look for trends. - no response given

Research performed for almost 30 years has indicated that yearly variation in the abundance of spruce cones had important consequences.
Research performed for almost 30 years has indicated that yearly variation in the abundance of spruce cones had important consequences. - no response given

In the Yukon, the seed of white spruce cones is a critical food resource for red squirrels.
In the Yukon, the seed of white spruce cones is a critical food resource for red squirrels. - no response given

White spruce produces extremely high numbers of cones every 2-6 years with few cones produced in the intervening years.
White spruce produces extremely high numbers of cones every 2-6 years with few cones produced in the intervening years. - correct
Question 2
Question 2

By generation 4, scientists observed that some red squirrels were giving birth an average 2.5 days early. Select the two evolutionary advantages that might give the offspring squirrels.

(2 points)
Responses

A. The offspring would grow up sooner in the season, so they would be larger than their competition.
A. The offspring would grow up sooner in the season, so they would be larger than their competition.

B. The females can have a second litter in the year to increase the competition later in the season.
B. The females can have a second litter in the year to increase the competition later in the season.

C. The offspring are more likely to get eaten by predators later in the season.
C. The offspring are more likely to get eaten by predators later in the season.

D. The offspring can climb better later in the season to get to the pine cones.

Answer 1

Based on the information provided, here are the suggested answers to your questions:

Question 3 Based on the statements provided and the context given:

Correct Answer: C. Births are staying the same.

Question 4 The sentences describing the change occurring and its effect on the birth rate of squirrels should be completed as follows:

1. Graph 1 is showing that the average amount of food (spruce cones) is increasing. This might be causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

2. Graph 2 is showing that the average temperature in the spring is rising. This might be causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

3. Graph 3 is showing that the average timing of births is earlier. This is causing an effect on the birth rate of squirrels.

Question 5 Part A: The claim about the impact of environmental changes on red squirrels.

Correct Answer: C. Environmental changes have caused red squirrels to reproduce earlier in the year.

Question 6 Part B: The evidence to support the claim selected in Part A.

Correct Answer: B. Warmer springs have shifted the timing of white spruce cone production.

Question 7 Part C: The statement that connects the evidence with the claim.

Correct Answer: A. Earlier spruce cone production gives red squirrels more food in the fall, leading to earlier births.

Question 1 The text that explains what is unusual about the Red Squirrel’s food supply.

Correct Answer: White spruce produces extremely high numbers of cones every 2-6 years with few cones produced in the intervening years.

Question 2 The two evolutionary advantages of offspring squirrels.

Correct Answers: A. The offspring would grow up sooner in the season, so they would be larger than their competition.

B. The females can have a second litter in the year to increase the competition later in the season.

These answers incorporate the fundamental trends and relationships concerning red squirrels, their food supply, and reproduction, based on the readings you provided.