Species Identification

1. Show students the presentation Species Identification.
Use the Powerpoint presentation to introduce students to the complexities facing scientists as they identify species. As a class, discuss how scientists identify species and the challenges they face, and introduce students to the All Taxa Biodiversity Index, a 10-year inventory of all organisms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

2. Introduce the activity.
Show students the photo gallery of students identifying species. Tell students that they will consult expert resources to identify organisms observed in the previous Plot Study Observation activity and then make species identification cards in order to create an inventory representing the diversity of the area studied. If necessary, review elements commonly included on a species identification card: Family, Scientific Name, Common Name(s), Observation Location, Date Observed, Identified By, and Detailed Description.

3. Divide students into small groups.
If possible, divide students into the same groups from the Plot Study activity, or jigsaw students so that each group is working with data from all plots/groups.

4. Distribute the worksheet and materials.
Distribute the worksheet Species Identification Cards and other necessary materials. Encourage students to use expert resources for research and to incorporate drawings, observations, and photographs in the identification cards.

5. Have students present their findings.
Have students present inventories, share findings, and describe research challenges they may have faced during the activity. Remind students there are between 5 and 30 million species, many nearly identical, and that it takes practice and skill to identify species.

Informal Assessment

Assess how well students’ presentations communicate their findings.

Connections to National Standards

National Geography Standards

• Standard 8:  

The Characteristics and Spatial Distribution of Ecosystems on Earth’s Surface

National Science Education Standards

• (5-8) Standard C-4:  

Populations and ecosystems

• (9-12) Standard C-6:  

Behavior of organisms

Background Information

It takes specialized skills and scientific expertise to correctly identify species. There are millions of species on Earth—between 5 and 30 million—and just 2 million species have been identified and named. That means there are more species that are unknown than known. In addition, some species are so similar that differences are visible only through DNA analysis.

Vocabulary