Tom Keller

6-18-03

SLM 521

"Web Dropin 2"

It has long been thought that dinosaurs were cold-blooded animals. Recent evidence, however, is pointing to the fact that dinosaurs were likely warm-blooded and more like mammals. The study of how these animals lived millions of years ago is important to us today so that we can gain a greater understanding of the evolutionary relationships that have existed over history. The more we know about evolutionary relationships, the more we know about how life can evolve and ultimately how life can begin. Obtaining new information about dinosaurs also helps us learn more about the geological forces that may have shaped the history of the world and may continue to do so in the future.

Exploring the Internet is a great way to quickly obtain extensive and current information about such topics. However, it is important to make sure the information is coming from a reliable source. This activity will allow students to gain information about up to date news with dinosaurs as well as proper techniques for ensuring their Internet sources are reliable.

Left: A photograph of a fossilized heart in the chest cavity of a Thescelosaurus.

Right: CT scan of the same dinosaur’s heart. Evidence, such as shown here in these two pictures, are what is leading researchers to develop the theory that dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded animals.

Recent findings that indicate dinosaurs may have likely been warm-blooded is an important and popular topic in the field of evolutionary biology. By exploring the below sites as a source to begin, students will learn about the recent findings regarding dinosaurs, compare contradictory information to formulate their own opinions, and learn how to filter through information on the web looking for reliable sources.

http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa042700a.htm - This site offers an introduction to recent findings about dinosaurs possibly having been warm blooded. Be sure to visit the links at the bottom of the page that offer more information about the warm-blooded/cold-blooded dinosaur debate.

http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/communication/rothery/Rothery.html - This site offers background information about warm-bloodedness and cold-bloodedness that may be necessary for you to complete this task.

Visit the above sites to learn about recent findings indicating that dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded. Be sure to visit links provided on the page that offer extended information on the topic.

Use a search engine, such as http://www.google.com or http://www.yahoo.com to search the web for other information that agrees with and contradicts the warm-blooded hypothesis presented in the above article.

After reading at least 3 more sites that agree with the warm-blooded hypothesis and 3 sites that offer contradictory information about the warm-blooded hypothesis, formulate several reasons why you believe one theory over the other.

Many of the sites you find may be unreliable visit the following website to help you determine if your sources are reliable or not.

http://www.smpcollege.com/guidebook/online_7.htm

If you believe they are unreliable, that is okay, because after we compile an extensive list from the whole class, we will briefly look at many of those sites and discuss what are the qualities that help us determine the site as a credible or not credible source.