Variation Lab Questions

1) A trend I noticed was that in each graph, there was a big group with the same size, or the average size. For example, one graph bar was always much larger than the rest.

2) Overall, only about 3 people had extreme traits varying between below average and above average.

3) A trait with most variation was probably the hand span.

4) Having variation benefits species because if they were all the same, they would not only require a tremendous amount of the same food but it would also only take one thing to weaken or even kill all of the population of that species.

5) Having extreme traits can be very beneficial to the species because they are able to accomplish what a average could not do. It adds variety. For example, there are giraffes with long necks, average necks and short necks. this means that the tall giraffes can get the tall trees while the short giraffes can get food closer to the ground.

6) I have the characteristics I have because of the genes my parents gave me. These genes result to the way I look and the way I act. For example I am tall because both my parents are tall, I have big brown eyes from of my mother, and I have thick brown hair from my father.

7) A gene is a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent gene to an offspring. 
A DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self- replicating material located in the cell nucleus and is in 

humans and almost all other living organisms. DNA controls the amount of enzymes and protein which makes humans functional. Mot only that but they are the reason humans are individual in their own way.

Comparing My Animals

      All the animals that I chose were just animals that I liked and attracted me most. To be completely honest, I didn't think that any of these animals would have as much in common as they did. All of my animals obviously come from the Animalia kingdom but also have the Chordata Phylum as well as have a Mammalia class. For the Order, I only have one Carnivora, Monotremata, and Primates. Both my Red Kangaroo and my Koala have the Order in common which is called Diprotodontia. Apparently, one of the few reasons these animals are in the same category is because all members of Diprotodontia exhibit a large pair of incisors on the lower jaw. Also, they have fused fingers which means the second and third digits of the feet are completely fused together, except for the claw. Who knew that all the Kangaroo and Koala had in common was a part of their teeth and their toes? Other than those two, the other animals are special in their own individual way.

All the different kinds of animals

Gray wolf - Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Canidae Canis lupus 

  

Platypus - Animalia Chordata Mammalia Monotremata Ornithorhynchidae Ornithorhynchus anatinus 

Golden lion tamarin - Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Callitrichidae Leontopithecus rosalia 

Red kangaroo- Animalia Chordata Mammalia Diprotodontia Macropodidae Maropus rufus 

Koala - Animalia Chordata Mammalia Diprotodontia Phascolarctidae Phascolarctos cinereus 

My tree

My tree is called an Alder.

Photos from around the school

I just realized I never posted the photos of the various living things. This is what Jaime and myself took pictures of. It's not the best camera but we got everything in the criteria. 

Now I realize why there was a snake in the back of the school.

Garter snakes, or better known as garden snakes, are extremely common in Canada. They are the single most widely distributed species of reptile in North America. The habitat of the garter snake ranges from forests, fields, and prairies to streams, wetlands, meadows, marshes, and ponds, and it is often found near water. Since these snakes are water-loving, they require a damp environment which is provided with the stream in the back of the school. Also, a garter snake's diet consists of almost any creature that it is able to catch: slugs, earthworms, leeches, lizards, amphibians, birds, insects and rodents. This is perfect for the snake because of the great population of these things in the forest area of Sullivan. So overall, the snake will have no problem surviving in that little forested area. 

My question that I came up with is " Why does a garter snake live in the habitat behind Sullivan Heights Secondary?"