Module 3 Intro

Module 3—Ecosystems and Their Diversity

Lesson 3—Classifying and Naming Organisms: Dichotomous Keys

Get Focused

If you are packing for a trip and someone tells you to pack your shoes, you might experience some confusion, especially if you are a slave to fashion. Did the person mean your Puma track shoes, your Aldo sandals, your Northface hiking boots, or your Nike runners? Each of these brands has specific observable characteristics (logos) that categorize it.

Parks Canada employees must similarly be able to distinguish between different organisms based on observations. For example, you may know that no wildflowers are to be picked in the parks; however, Parks personnel can sometimes be seen pulling flowers in ditches. They must know something you don’t. How do they make the decision about which flowers to pull? What observable differences do you see between the two photos here?

In this lesson you will explore the following question:

• How can observable characteristics be used to identify organisms at the genus species level?

Module 3: Lesson 3 Assignment

Your teacher-marked Module 3: Lesson 3 Assignment requires you to submit a response to the following:

• TR 2. Creating a Dichotomous Key

You can access your Module 3: Lesson 3 Assignment. You can print off the assignment or save the download to your computer. Your answers can be saved on this document to your course folder.

You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by the teacher.

Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should respond to all the questions and place those answers in your course folder.

Biology 20 © 2008 Alberta Education