SCI 100 Topic Exploration Graphic Organizer
Topic The crocodiles today look very similar to the ones from the Jurassic period some 200 million years
ago. The evolution rate of crocodiles is generally slow. It seems the crocodiles arrived at a body plan
that was very efficient and versatile enough that they did not need to change it in order to survive.
Main Idea The main idea of my news story is that a "stop-start" pattern of evolution,
controlled by environmental change, might explain why crocodiles have changed so little since
the age of the dinosaurs.
Supporting Evidence (Describe the evidence that supports the main idea or
thesis of your news story.)
1) Crocodiles follow a pattern of evolution known as "punctuated
equilibrium" which means that their rate of evolution is generally slow,
but sometimes they evolve more quickly because the environment has
changed.
2) The versatility could be one explanation why crocodiles survived the
meteor impact. Crocodiles generally thrive better in warm conditions
because they require warmth from the environment. The climate
during age of dinosaurs was warmer than it is today and may explain
why there was many more varieties of crocodiles than we have now.
3) For their study, they measured body size, which is important because
it interacts with how fast animals grow, how much food they need,
how big their populations are and how likely they are to become
extinct.
Questions (Your questions should be based on the main idea and supporting
evidence that you identified.)
1) One question is how long and how hot can a crocodile withstand?
2) If the environment changed so drastically that the dinosaurs perished,
then what changes took place in the crocodiles? And if they
evolutionizied then how much and how fast?
Information I could utilize the Shapiro Library. I may be able to find a text book, or some scientific
journals. There may be some documentaries on the subject even.