Question

A bird-watcher sees a small yellow bird in a tree. Explain to the bird-watcher how he can use a dichotomous key to identify the bird. Assume he does not know anything about dichotomous keys. Then, write two steps of a dichotomous key that would be helpful for the bird-watcher.(2 points)

thank you

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A dichotomous key is a tool used to identify unknown organisms based on their characteristics. It works by presenting pairs of statements that describe different traits of the organism, with the user choosing the statement that best matches the organism they are trying to identify. By following the steps in the key and making choices based on the characteristics of the bird, the bird-watcher can narrow down the options and eventually identify the bird.

Step 1: Does the bird have a long, pointed beak?
- Yes: Go to step 2
- No: It is not a warbler

Step 2: Is the bird predominantly yellow in color with black markings on its wings?
- Yes: The bird is likely a goldfinch
- No: The bird is not a goldfinch