Will the Pika Survive?
You are a conservation biologist studying a small
member of the rabbit family named Pika.
Reports have shown that Pika populations are
decreasing. You are to find out what
characteristics give the Pika a survival advantage
in an Alpine habitat and suggest possible
reasons for the decline in Pika populations.
Start by reading about the Pika and recording your observations in the chart below
Part 1: Gather Information
Specialized body
structures
What body parts does a
Pika have that help it
survive?
Physical abilities
How does a Pika adapt
to the immediate
environment?
Instinctive
behaviors
What does a Pika do to
survive in its
environment?
Part 2: Questions for Thinking and Discussion:
1. How are a Pika’s traits (physical abilities. specialized structures, instinctual behaviors)
specialized for survival in the Alpine environment?
2. How do these traits give the Pika a survival advantage in the Apline environment?
3. How can the Pika’s traits become a survival disadvantage in the Alpine environment?
Part 3: WHY are these traits important?
Type of Trait
Specialized
body
structures
Physical
abilities
Instinctive
behaviors
Specific Adaptations
WHY is this trait important?
Part 4: Data Analysis/ Looking for Patterns
Number of Pika in Three Locations by Year 1995-2005
Number of Frost-free Periods and Number of Pika by Year
Map of Pika Distribution in Utah
Red circles= Since 1983
Yellow squares= Before 1983
Writing a Scientific Argument
Name _______________________________
Phenomenon: __________________________________
______________________________________________
Claim: _________________________________________
______________________________________________
Support claim with evidence
Evidence # 1
Evidence # 2
Evidence # 3
Conclusion