Name: Jiulia Morales

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. Geographical

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?
The mosquitos from above ground went into the subway tunnels and
1 then experienced reproductive isolation from the above ground
mosquitos which resulted in two different types.

2. Which evolutionary process did the new subspecies of mosquito achieve in

the subway tunnels?
The evolutionary process the new subspecies achieved was
geographical isolation.

3. What is speciation?
Speciation is when two or more species come from one species.

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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?
There’s doubt because another invasive species of mosquito were
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 Culex pipens only bit and fed on birds while the Culex pipen
molestus bit humans and fed on human blood.

2. What are three traits that are unique to the Culex pipiens molestus?
1 They feed on rats and humans, they mate in closed areas, and they
don’t hibernate in the winter like the Culex pipens.

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 are no longer able to mate with the other mosquitoes.

5. The tunnels were sealed off, creating a physical barrier and thereby
reproductive isolation. What type of evolution occurred as a result?
The type of evolution that occurred as a result was 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 took maybe only a few hundred generations because the the
construction of the London Underground isolated the above ground
mosquitoes from the ones that started to live underground.

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 7. What could be an alternative explanation for the origin of Culex pipiens
molestus?
An alternative explanation could have been that the mosquitoes were
brought “from the freight and fruit movement into the docks of
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London”.

8. Why does Reznick feel that London is the birthplace of the Culex pipiens
molestus?
Reznick compared above ground mosquito populations to below
ground mosquito populations and discovered that the alleles between
the species were similar.

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.
A physical barrier isn’t needed to speed up the process of speciation.
An example of this is the marine stickleback fish in Anchorage, Alaska
had to adapt to freshwater after an earthquake created new lakes.

Task 3 - Reflection Questions

1. The mosquitoes in London’s underground became a new species. TRUE/FALSE
True, the Culex pipens molestus adapted to the underground subway tunnels and
became a new subspecies of mosquitoes in London.

2. Going underground and drifting out to sea are examples of isolation. TRUE/FALSE
True, both instances geographically separate a population.

3. What environmental factors were necessary for speciation to occur among the mosquito
population?
Environmental factors necessary were the underground subway tunnels which
qualifies as geographical isolation.

4. How is reproductive isolation evidence for the speciation of the mosquito population?
The above ground mosquitos (Culex pipens) can’t mate or interbreed with the
underground mosquitos (Culex pipens molestus).

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 5. What are the key adaptations (advantageous traits) unique to the underground mosquito
compared to the above ground mosquitos?
The underground mosquitos feed on rats and humans, they mate in closed areas, they
don’t hibernate in the winter, and they don’t form big swarms to pick their mate. The
above ground mosquitos feed on birds, hibernate in the winter, need blood to lay
eggs, and need a lot of space to mate.

6. Would it have been possible for the mosquitos to speciate if they weren’t geographically
isolated? Explain why.
I think it would have been possible but it wouldn’t have the same results as with the
London Underground. The tunnels created a physical barrier between the above
ground and underground mosquitoes which created two different species. If the
geographical isolation was because of a body of water or any other physical barrier,
the mosquitoes would still most likely have similar traits such as hibernating in the
winter but would also have distinctly different traits.

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 and extinction through things like geographical isolation, relocations,
hunting, etc. Humans relocate many organisms and populations for many different reasons which
results in reproductive isolation, divergent evolution, and the rise in different species or the opposite,
the extinction of different species. Today, hunting is one major factor that aids in the extinction of
animals. Relocations can cause rises in new species because of the adaptation and changes the
organism or population has to go through to survive. Geographical isolation can cause existing
species to evolve or adapt to their new environment and create a new species or subspecies.
Divergent evolution can occur when there’s a barrier or separation between two species, humans can
cause that barrier and an example of this can be the above ground mosquitoes and under ground
mosquitoes in the London Underground systems.
When humans isolate or separate organisms, the founder effect can occur within that group.
According to biology dictionary the founder effect means, “The new population will resemble only
the individuals that founded the smaller, distinct population.” The gene pool of organisms can
change overtime because of the speciation caused by humans. The genetic drift is completely up to
chance, unlike natural selection. Humans can cause speciation and extinction in organisms because
of the actions towards said organisms or to it’s surroundings.

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 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+)
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

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● 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