Overview

As a high school Biological Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching about chromosomal and environmental sex determination in various species, and the factors that influence sex determination in sea turtles. This lesson plan allows students to learn about the mechanisms for determination of gender in different species, and specifically, in sea turtles. The activity will help students understand the possible effects of climate change (specifically, increase in temperature) on the sex ratio and population of sea turtles.

Grade Level: High School
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Topics: Sex Determination in Species, Chromosomal Sex Determination, Environmental Sex Determination (ESD), Sea Turtle Biology, Biodiversity, Ecology
Climate Topic: Climate and the Biosphere
Location: Global, Florida (USA)
Languages: English
Access: Online (some material can be downloaded for offline use) Duration: 80-90 min

Learning outcomes

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

• describe chromosomal and environmental sex determination in species
• discuss the role of environmental factors in sex determination of sea turtles
• explain the potentially adverse effects of climate change on sea turtle population
• discuss and predict the impact of climate change on ecosystems