Begin Elephant Engineering Design

Happy Monday!

We've explored several different aspects that may affect elephant reproduction - it's time to tie it all together...
(check on project progress HERE)

Please keep phones away and get out a notebook and pencil for note taking

Last class we asked: 
How do we measure exercise in animals?
We looked at polar bear accelerometer data and discussed how scientists are monitoring their behaviors to determine how they are being affected by climate change.

First, let's practice making scientific observations! Think about what behaviors you see in the following clips and how those behaviors require different energy demands...

I want you to observe for 5 minutes, taking notes on how the animals are interacting with:

-Environment

-Humans

-Other elephants

Polar Bears:
(wild) Live Polar Bear Cam - Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada (observe for ~2 mins)
(captive) Polar Bear Cam - San Diego Zoo (~2 min obs.)

Elephants:
(wild) Footage of wild elephants - Botswana, Africa (start at 4:45 - 12:45)
(captive) Live Elephant Cam - San Diego Zoo Safari Park

With your lab group, compare your observation notes. Then, make a prediction about how much energy is required for different tasks in captive elephants versus wild elephants' lives. (for example, _ probably requires more energy than _ )

How does this connect to elephant reproduction? 

• What role does stress play in cell growth and repair? ✓
• How do cells signal to one another? ✓
• How might zoo elephants and wild elephants experience exercise and cellular impacts of exercise differently?

Now you will complete the 'Elephant Engineering Design' worksheet with your group. It's organized to help you:
1) identify the problem(s)
2) brainstorm solutions
3) identify criteria (goals) and constraints (limits)
4) design a prototype
5) reflect on your process

You have the rest of this class period and half of the next class period to complete it.