Q. Select ONE animal species. Your goal is to explain the way in which an evolutionary change might occur for a particular characteristic (trait) of a population of that species as a result of natural selection.

The characteristic (trait) could be something like coloration pattern, length of the limbs, size of the teeth or beak, or any measurable trait that is inherited.

The organism you choose should be a real one, but evolutionary change in a trait that you describe can be real or fiction.

First, recognize the species. Clearly state the name of the SPECIES you are going to be talking about for this assignment. (Make sure you know what is meant by a species.)

Second, clearly state what population of the species you are going to talk about by specifying its geographic location. (Make sure you understand what a population is.)

•recognize a trait of the population to be addressed.

•describe how this trait varies among individuals.

•elucidate how the change in this trait occurs. You will describe the trait in the population at the starting point and then what the trait will look like at a later time, as a result of natural selection.

•Make sure to explain the process by which the changes occurred. What is the selective pressure?

•describe why the change might confer more fitness to a particular environment.

•Also, explain what change occurs in the environment that causes a change in the characteristic (trait).