This lab and accompanying workbook introduce a key piece of evolutionary theory. Students quantify and compare nestedness patterns (or lack thereof) among traits of evolved versus "created" virtual lizard species. They then use their data to predict the order that those traits should appear in the virtual fossil record. After testing their predictions, they apply this approach to real fossil record data. This is a great lead-in to the Flowers and Trees lab!
TYPE - Workbook Lab W more infoLEVEL - Lower Division