Si el Norte Fuera el Sur

By Karin Gastreich

Abstract

In this case study, students are given the task of developing a recovery plan to protect a recently discovered population of Central American squirrel monkeys on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. In the process they must determine whether the population is a separate species or related to another species of monkeys in the area. The case was originally designed for a course on fundamentals of tropical biology. The activity is adapted from another case study in the NCCSTS case collection: "Trouble in Paradise: A Case of Speciation" by James A. Hewlett. Due to the open-ended nature of the activity, there is no separate answer key for this case.

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Date Posted

04/03/2002

Overview

Objectives

Review and consolidate their background understanding of evolutionary processes that give rise to speciation.
Apply concepts of micro- and macro- evolution to the divergence of two populations of Central American squirrel monkey.
Interpret simple data about squirrel monkeys, make inferences, and draw conclusions from that data.
Produce an original evolutionary story about the divergence of two populations of squirrel monkeys, using actual and fabricated data.
Learn the geography of southwest Costa Rica and understand the role of geography in generating species diversity.
Understand the concept of species and the implications of this concept for conservation.
Work cooperatively in small groups to develop skills in creative problem solving.
Develop a collaborative relationship with fellow students in an academic and social environment.

Keywords

squirrel monkey; speciation; tropical forest; population recovery; directional selection; stabilizing selection; Ballena Marine; Costa Rica; Saimiri oerstedii

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Ecology

Evolutionary Biology

Wildlife Management

Zoology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Role-Play

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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Note: There is no answer key for this case study.