Students who demonstrate understanding can: Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
Clarification statement: Examples of behaviors that affect the probability of animal reproduction could include nest building to protect young from cold, herding of animals to protect young from predators, and vocalization of animals and colorful plumage to attract mates for breeding. Examples of animal behaviors that affect the probability of plant reproduction could include transferring pollen or seeds, and creating conditions for seed germination and growth. Examples of plant structures could include bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower nectar and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, and hard shells on nuts that squirrels bury.
Official wording from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013). NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the NGSS were involved in the production of this page, and they do not endorse it. View on nextgenscience.org
Reproduction is never guaranteed, so living things have traits that raise the odds. Animals show behaviors such as building nests, guarding young, herding, singing or displaying bright feathers to attract mates. Plants cannot move, so many rely on structures that recruit animals to help them: bright petals, sweet nectar and strong scents attract pollinators, and tasty fruits or nuts get seeds carried away from the parent plant.
Students argue from empirical evidence. A typical data set might show that male birds with longer tail feathers attract more mates, or that flowers visited by more bees produce more seeds. Students then reason about probability: a trait does not guarantee success, but it increases the chance that an individual reproduces and passes on its genes.
An interesting twist is that animal behavior can increase plant reproduction too. A squirrel that buries acorns and forgets some of them is planting oak trees, and a bee collecting nectar is carrying pollen between flowers.
Courtship and nest building are inherited behaviors that increased reproductive success in ancestors. Individual animals are not planning for the future of the species.
Flower color and scent matter because they attract pollinators. Wind-pollinated plants such as grasses often have small, dull flowers because they do not need to attract animals.
Students often say a bright bird will reproduce. The evidence shows a higher probability, not a certainty, and data sets usually include exceptions.
Many flowering plants depend on animals for pollination and seed dispersal, so animal behavior can directly affect plant reproduction.
Researchers recorded mating success in a bird species. Males with short tails: 10 observed, 2 mated. Males with long tails: 10 observed, 7 mated. Does tail length affect reproduction?
Answer: Long-tailed males mated 70 percent of the time versus 20 percent for short-tailed males, which supports the claim that tail length raises the probability of reproductive success.
Give students short data sets or video clips of real behaviors, such as bowerbird displays, penguins huddling over eggs or bees visiting flowers, and have them write a claim, evidence and reasoning paragraph. Sorting cards into 'helps attract a mate', 'protects young' and 'helps a plant spread pollen or seeds' builds the categories quickly.
Keep the language of probability central, since assessment items ask students to judge whether evidence supports a claim that a trait increases the likelihood of reproduction.
Original questions written for this standard. Choose an option or type your answer, then press Check. Every question has a worked explanation.
Answer: C) To attract animals that carry pollen
Color and nectar attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which carry pollen between flowers.
Answer: B) It increases the chance the egg survives the cold
Protecting the egg from freezing temperatures raises the probability that the chick hatches and survives.
Answer: pollination (also accepted: cross-pollination, cross pollination)
Pollination is the transfer of pollen, often carried by insects, birds or wind.
Answer: D) Some buried acorns can germinate away from the parent tree
Forgotten acorns are planted in soil and can sprout, spreading oaks to new places.
Answer: C) Singing increases the probability of attracting a mate
Data show a higher likelihood, not a certainty. Some quiet males may still mate.
Answer: seeds (also accepted: seed, their seeds)
Birds eat fruit and later drop the seeds elsewhere, dispersing the plant to new areas.
A full lesson with slides, activities and an exit ticket on behaviors and structures that aid reproduction, pitched to grades 6-8 and editable in PowerPoint or Google Slides.
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Build a test βYes. It covers animal behaviors that affect animal reproduction, animal behaviors that help plants reproduce, and plant structures that attract animals or protect seeds.
Because a behavior or structure raises the likelihood of successful reproduction; it does not guarantee it, and data always show some variation.