Evolution

Species – organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Male donkey Female horse Mule

Male lion Female tiger Liger

Not all members of a species look exactly alike… Variation – differences between individual members of a population A red fox can be either red or silver in color

Homo sapiens

Many variations are determined by our genetics Recombination of genes Mutations – a change in the sequence of a gene

Mutations Most are neutral or harmful, but occasionally a mutation will increase an organism’s chances of survival A mutation is most likely to be beneficial when the environment is changing

Peppered moth Before the industrial revolution, most peppered moths were a light color Tree trunks were covered with light gray lichens, so the moths were perfectly camouflaged.

Peppered moth Dark form of the moth would appear every once in a while probably due to a mutation. Dark moths were easily seen and eaten by predators

Peppered moth When factories began, soot and smoke killed the lichen on the trees, leaving a darker bark. Light moths were now easily seen and eaten by predators while dark moths were hidden.

Variation creates populations with diverse traits These traits inherited by each individual will determine whether or not that organism will survive in a particular environment

Adaptations Adaptation – an inherited trait that increases a population’s chances of survival in an area

Types of Adaptation Anything that helps an organism survive in its environment is an adaptation.  It also refers to the ability of living things to adjust to different conditions within their environments.  Structural adaptation Protective coloration Mimicry  Behavior adaptations Migration Hibernation

Structural adaptations A structural adaptation involves some part of an animal's body. Teeth Body coverings    Movement A structural adaptation involves some part of an animal's body, such as the size or shape of the teeth, the animal's body covering, or the way the animal moves.   Teeth - since different animals eat different things, they don't all have the same kind of teeth Body coverings - Hair, scales, spines, and feathers grow from the skin.  All of these parts help animals survive in their environments.   Movement - animals find food by moving from place to place

Protective Coloration Protective coloration allow an animal to blend into its environment.  Another word for this might be camouflage.  Their camouflage makes it hard for enemies to single out individuals.  

Mimicry Mimicry allows one animal to look, sound, or act like another animal to fool predators into thinking it is poisonous or dangerous.   Coral snake (left) very poinsonous & Milk snake (right)

Behavior adaptations Behavior adaptations include activities that help an animal survive.  Behavior adaptations can be learned or instinctive. Social behaviour   Behavior for protection   Behavior adaptations include activities that help an animal survive.  Behavior adaptations can be learned or instinctive. (a behavior an animal is born with). Social behavior - some animals live by themselves, while other live in groups.  Behavior for protection -  An animal's behavior sometimes helps to protect the animal.  For instance the opossum plays dead.  A rabbit freezes when it thinks it has been seen. 

Migration moving from one region to another and then back again Animals migrate for different reasons.  better climate better food safe place to live safe place to raise young go back to the place they were born. Migration-is the behavioral adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again.  Animals migrate for different reasons.  The reasons are as follows. better climate better food safe place to live safe place to raise young go back to the place they were born.

Hibernation This is deep sleep in which animal’s body temp droops, body activities are slowed to conserve energy Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Let’s see if you can pick out the features that makes each of these animals successful

Camel

Camel To protect itself from the blowing sand of the desert, a camel has two rows of long and thick eyelashes.

Camel Its nostrils can be closed to prevent the blowing sand from getting in.

Camel Its hooves with broad and leathery pads create a snowshoe effect and prevent a camel from sinking in the sand.

Camel Its hump that stores fat helps a camel sustain for long spans without food and water.

How has an elephant adapted to its environment?

Elephants The Trunk The elephant's trunk does so much more than smell. It is also used for blowing water into the mouth, communication, feeding, defense, touching, lifting, greeting, caressing, throwing dust, and just about any other activity an elephant is involved in.

Elephants Ears While exceptionally good at picking up sound, they are also used as an air conditioner of sorts. When the temperature rises, elephants flap their ears. This cools blood flowing through vessels in the ears, which then flows back to the body, cooling it in turn.

What about the giraffe?

Giraffe Their fringed tails help keep flies and insects away. Their long legs and long neck provide them with the height to reach tall trees. The long tongue helps a giraffe strip off leaves while its tough lips protect it from thorns.

What special features do Echidnas have?

Echidna An Echidna is a mammal and is also known as the Spiny Anteater. An Echidna's body is covered with long sharp spines set in short fur. These spines are the Echidnas defense mechanism. When attacked, it rolls itself in a tight ball and burrows out of reach.

Echidna Echidnas have no teeth, but uses a long sticky tongue to penetrate ant and termite nests, which they have gauged open with their strong ripping claws.

How about the Gecko?

Gecko Most day geckos are bright green in color. The Round Island Day Gecko is probably the dullest looking one of all. It is perfectly camouflaged against the brown bark of the main stem of the tree.

Gecko Geckos have special feet to help them climb up smooth surfaces. The flattened toes have elongated scales. A microscopic view would show thousands of tiny, hooked bristles that can hold on to any surface. This means they can easily climb up palm trees, as well as hide on the underside of leaves.

Gecko They also have sharp teeth to penetrate the exoskeleton of an insect.

Gecko For defense, the tail just drops off and lies moving around on the ground. Hopefully the enemy will pay attention to the tail while the gecko escapes. The stump quickly heals, and they will eventually grow a new tail.

The Kangaroo?

Kangaroo These animals are mostly found in the dry inland Australia, including desert, grassland, mallee, and mulga country. It is able to go with out drinking as long as green grass is available and it adapts well to drought.

Kangaroo Despite its name, the Red Kangaroo is sometimes a blue-grey color, particularly the female. Even though these animals look cuddly, they are to be approached with caution. They have evolved with a  large claw attached to its hind leg.

Kangaroo Red Kangaroos can hop as fast as 40 mph (64 km).  They use this as their first line of defense.  Kangaroos have a tendon in the leg which acts like a rubber band, conserving energy as the animal moves lands.  Red Kangaroos actually expand less energy in locomotion as they move faster, up to very fast speeds.

Animal Adaptations All animals have adapted special features and characteristics that enable them to be successful in the areas that they live. Those with a broad range of features are better able to adapt to a new environment than those with more specialized features.