Lab #6 Evolution & Adaptation

Explain adaptive radiation and how the different paper forms made by the “finches” helped or hurt that particular “finch species”

The evolutionary diversification of a species or single ancestral lineage into various forms that are each adaptively specialized to a specific environmental niche. Adaptive radiation generally proceeds most rapidly in environments where there are numerous unoccupied niches or where competition for resources is minimal.

An example is shown in Darwin's finches, 14 species of small land birds of the Galápagos Islands. All the finches derive from a single species of ground-dwelling, seed-eating finch that probably emigrated from the South American mainland. Because the environmental niches, or habitats, were unoccupied on the isolated islands, the ancestral stock was able to differentiate into diverse species; 3 species are ground-dwelling seedeaters, 3 live on cactus plants and are seedeaters, 1 is a tree-dwelling seedeater, and 7 are tree-dwelling insecteaters.

Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2010. Adaptive radiation_ Medical dictionary [Internet]. [Cited March 8, 2014 ] Available from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/adaptive+radiation

With the pray survival data you collect, graph survivor ship over time 

Explain how behavioral adaptations my lead to genetic changes in a population

Adaptation is not always a simple matter, where the ideal phenotype evolves for a given external environment. An organism must be viable at all stages of its development and at all stages of its evolution. This places constraints on the evolution of development, behaviour and structure of organisms. The main constraint, over which there has been much debate, is the requirement that each genetic and phenotypic change during evolution should be relatively small, because developmental systems are so complex and interlinked. However, it is not clear what "relatively small" should mean, for example polyploidy in plants is a reasonably common large genetic change.

Wikipedia. Modify March 6, 2014. Adaptation. [Internet][3/08/2014]. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation

A species that has a behavioral adaptation that may allow its predator not to be able to eat it or find it. Explain what this BEHAVIORAL adaptation is.

Behavioral adaptation is characterized as being how an animals acts and behaves in order to stay alive due to its climate. These behaviors can be distinctive or used for protection.

An example is a Chameleon: It's very hard to see the chameleon because his skin (a body part) helps him blend in to avoid predators. This is an INHERITED PHYSICAL ADAPTATION. He inherited his skin color and texture (trait) from his parents. This trait is an ADAPTATION that helps him survive. Now, to help him not be seem he had to LEARN not to move. The ability to be very still is a BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION (an action or behavior) that helps him survive.

Source: Tangient LLC. Copyright 2014. Traits & Behaviors. [Internet][3/08/2014]. Available from: https://5thgradesciencegeek.wikispaces.com/Traits+%26+Behaviors

A species that has a physical adaptation that allows it to survive in cold weather.

Birds have many superb adaptations that allow them to survive even in the most frigid conditions, and birders who understand what birds need to keep warm can easily help their feathered friends.

Physical Adaptations

·         Feathers: Birds’ feathers provide remarkable insulation against the cold, and many bird species grow extra feathers as part of a late fall molt to give them thicker protection in the winter. The oil that coats birds’ feathers also provides insulation as well as waterproofing.

·         Legs and Feet: Birds’ legs and feet are covered with specialized scales that minimize heat loss. Birds can also control the temperature of their legs and feet separately from their bodies by constricting blood flow to their extremities, thereby reducing heat loss even further.

·         Fat Reserves: Even small birds can build up fat reserves to serve as insulation and extra energy for generating body heat. Many birds will gorge during the fall when food sources are abundant, giving them an extra fatty layer before winter arrives.

Melissa Mayntz. 2014. How Do Wild Birds Keep Warm in winter?. [Internet][3/08/2014]. Available from: http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/a/howbirdskeepwarm.htm

A species that has a physical adaptation that allows it to survive from its predators.

In their fight for survival, plants have evolved defenses against herbivore. One main categories of defense that plants use. The first defensive mechanism is mechanical defense, which includes physical features such as thorns and needles.

An example of mutualism in nature. Explain what mutualism is this case.

A second type of symbiotic relationship is called mutualism, in which two species benefit from their interaction. For example:The glucose produced by the algae provides nourishment for both organisms, whereas the physical structure of the lichen protects the algae from the elements and makes certain nutrients in the atmosphere more available to the algae. The algae of lichens can live independently given the right environment, but many of the fungal partners are unable to live on their own.

Lichen is a fungus that has symbiotic photosynthetic algae living in close association. (credit b: modification of work by Cory Zanker) shows a tree covered with lichen.

Community Ecology. Edited by Connexions BiologyNM on Mar 25, 2013. [Internet blog][3/09/2014]. Available from: http://cnx.org/content/m45555/latest/?collection=col11612/latest

An example of commensalism in nature. Explain how your picture represents commensalism.

A commensal relationship occurs when one species benefits from a close prolonged interaction, while the other neither benefits nor is harmed. Birds nesting in trees provide an example of a commensal relationship. The tree is not harmed by the presence of the nest among its branches. The nests are light and produce little strain on the structural integrity of the branch, and most of the leaves, which the tree uses to get energy by photosynthesis, are above the nest so they are unaffected. The bird, on the other hand, benefits greatly. If the bird had to nest in the open, its eggs and young would be vulnerable to predators. Many potential commensal relationships are difficult to identify because it is difficult to prove that one partner does not derive some benefit from the presence of the other.

 The southern masked-weaver is starting to make a nest in a tree in Zambezi Valley, Zambia. This is an example of a commensal relationship, in which one species (the bird) benefits, while the other (the tree) neither benefits nor is harmed. (credit: “Hanay”/Wikimedia Commons) Photo shows a yellow bird building a nest in a tree.

Community Ecology. Edited by Connexions BiologyNM on Mar 25, 2013. [Internet blog][3/09/2014]. Available from: http://cnx.org/content/m45555/latest/?collection=col11612/latest

An example of mimicry in nature. Explain what the mimicry is in this case.

In Central America, some harmless snakes are so similar to poisonous coral snakes that only an expert can distinguish the mimic from the 'model’

Mimicry between eastern coral snake and scarlet king snake in Carolinas is a good example to explain the importance of biological pigment in animals. Both species live in Carolinas, but the kingsnake is also found in regions without poisonous coral snakes. The predators that inherit an avoidance of coral snake’s colouration and hence they will attack less often towards the scarlet king snake in the regions where coral snake could be found.

Kokv. Monday, April 16, 2012. Uses of pigments in living organism and non-living organism. [Internet blog][3/09/2014]. Available from: http://1chemistry.blogspot.com/2012/04/uses-of-pigments-in-living-organism-and.html

One species from your country (plant animal insect etc) that has an adaptation that lets it survive in your country. Explain.  

With an average length of 3.7 - 4.7 cm, Honduran white bats are tiny for a bat. True to their name, they have a fluffy white coat. Their ears, face, nose and parts of their legs and wings are bright orange. Almost no hair grows on their black wings. Since their nose protrudes from their face in a triangular shape, scientists call members of their family "leaf-nosed bats." There is a thin, black membrane covering their skull that might provide the bats with protection from ultraviolet radiation -- a natural form of sunscreen! Why do Honduran white bats have bright white coats? Why are they not green like the leaves they hide inside? When the sun shines through the leaves of their tent, it makes the bats' white coat appear green, making them hard to spot! However, their tent is not home sweet home for long. The bats rarely return to the same tent for more than a day.

They live in rainforests that have heliconia plants. By cutting along the veins of heliconia leaves, these bats force the leaves to collapse into upside-down V-shaped "tents" that might shelter only one bat, or as many as twelve bats. When they roost, they hang close together upside down in the center of the leaf. The tents help protect them during the daytime from rain, the hot sun and predators. In fact, the bats choose leaves that are six feet off the ground -- high enough to be out of the reach of terrestrial predators. Also, the stems of heliconia plants are not very strong, so any predator brushing against the leaf causes the bats' tent to shake. This alerts the bats to danger and they fly quickly away.

                                        Photo by Merlin Tuttle

Rainforest Alliance.Copyright 1987 – 2014. Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba). [Internet blog][3/09/2014].Available from: www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/honduran-bat