#3 - Rain Forest Birds Research Projects Students select a topic related to native Haleakalā rain forest birds and conduct an independent research project on that topic. They display a dramatic range of phenotypic variation and are a model system for studies of evolution, conservation, disease dynamics and population genetics. Adaptive radiation in Hawaiian honeycreepers: These are a group of related birds found in the Hawaiian Islands. There had been some debate over whether such specialised morphologies could indicate close affinities between species from different lakes, but molecular phylogenetic studies have convincingly demonstrated that they represent cases of parallel evolution. Hawaiian endemic birds evolved and radiated into new species after they arrived to the islands from somewhere else. A PDF version of the paper will be available online at 17.00hrs UK time on Current Biology ’s media pages . One characteristic that can … According to the theory of sea -floor spreading, oceanic islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands depicted in Figure 25.3, form as oceanic crustal plates move over a stationary "hot spot" in the mantle. As the allopatric populations continue evolving independently, RIMs develop and morphological differences may arise. 1) Have students complete the Student Page “Adaptive Radiation in Hawaiian Honeycreepers: Questions on the Reading” in class. There were more than 50 species found, of which only 17 species remain today. Journal Ideas HCPS III Benchmarks SC 7.1.1 SC 7.1.2 SC 7.5.4 Duration 1 hour Source Material Adapted from sciencenetlinks.com & www.eduref.org PRISM Vocabulary Adaptive radiation Endemic Founder species Hawaiian Honeycreepers Hawaiian Bird Beak Adaptation Lab Summary d beaks that Hawaiian … Currently, the big island of Hawaii is thought to be over a hot spot, which is why it is the only one of the seven islands that has active volcanoes. endemism, adaptive radiation, Hawaiian honeycreepers, Hawaii as an archipelago, etc.) newer (derived), newer The adaptive radiation of mammals is thought to be primarily a result of an adaptive opportunity caused by Through a homework reading, questions, and class discussion, students learn about adaptive radiation in Hawaiian honeycreepers. Adaptive Radiation of Honeycreepers on Hawaiian Islands Hawaiian Honeycreepers are a classic example of adaptive radiation that occurs through a rapid evolution of diverse species exhibiting morphological and ecological differences among descendants of a common ancestor. The paper ‘Multilocus Resolution of Phylogeny and Timescale in the Extant Adaptive Radiation of Hawaiian Honeycreepers’ will be published in Current Biology on 8 November. Honeycreepers diversified quickly and occupied the available adaptive zones. Evolution - Evolution - Adaptive radiation: The geographic separation of populations derived from common ancestors may continue long enough so that the populations become completely differentiated species before ever regaining sympatry and the opportunity to interbreed. The Hawaiian honeycreepers are an avian adaptive radiation containing many endangered and extinct species.