Special Adaptations and Speciation Ex: use less water, larger eyes -An adaptation is a trait that an organism has that allows them to be more fit for their environment. -What are some specific ways that organisms have adapted to their environment?

Adaptations have evolved over huge amounts of time, in response to the pressure put on an organism from the environment. If the environment changes, the traits that best fit the new environment will be advantageous.

Evolution of Adaptations Observed Industrial Melanism is an evolution in coloration caused by a change in the environment. Peppered moths had a natural variation in color, from light gray to black. The color of the trees went from a light gray to a dark gray/black fairly rapidly. There were always a few moths with different colors.

Prior to the change, the advantage was for the light colored moth. After the change, the advantage was for the dark colored moth.

Explain how the change in environment caused Industrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth, and why the change was possible. What would happen to the population of moths if the trees were to turn light gray again? Why was variation within the population so vital to the evolution of the moth? Did individual moths change their color?

Camouflage and Other Tricks Camouflage is the adaptation of having coloration that blends in with the surrounding environment, making the organism less likely to be eaten, or allowing the organism to approach prey without being seen. JUST LIKE THIS!!!

What do You see in the picture?

This praying mantis has a coloration called cryptic coloration. The coloration in this case is both for defense and offense. It allows the mantis to hide on branches, and not be eaten, as well as to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.

This organism is called the Twig Caterpillar. It has cryptic coloration to allow it to blend in with the tree branch.

This is an example of a Katydid, which is hidden because it resembles a leaf. In this case, the coloration is defensive, because Katydids are not predatory. What do you think happens to this Katydid in the Fall of the year, when leaves turn color?

Countershading LOOKS LIKE THIS ON TOP LOOKS LIKE THIS ON BOTTOM A type of camouflage in which the top (dorsal) side of an organism is darker than the bottom (ventral) side Reduces shadow effects which give visual cues to the animal Also works through background matching

Grey Squirrel

Emperor Penguins

Warning coloration is a display shown by organisms that announce rather than hide by their coloration. Predators learn to shy away based on their appearance. Often, these organisms taste bad, or have a sting.

Yellow Jacket (Wasp)

Striped Skunk

This is a Nudibranch, a marine mollusk. Why do you think it would it advertise itself this way? It is brightly colored to advertise the fact that it tastes bad.

This is the Foaming Grasshopper, From the Rainforest of South America Do you think its coloration is designed to hide or advertise? Why?

This is the Scorpion Fish What is the name of the type of coloration it has? Why is it an adaptive advantage to have this coloration?

This is a Tropical Katydid. What type of coloration does it have? Is this coloration for defense or offense?

Mimicry is a deceptive form of camouflage. The original organism with the warning coloration is the model. The harmless, tasty organism is called the mimic. It works because one organism that is harmless takes the warning coloration of another organism that either tastes bad or has some defensive mechanism, such as a sting.

The Viceroy butterfly (L), mimics the Monarch butterfly ( R), because the Monarch tastes bad. Which butterfly is the mimic, and which is the model?

King Vs. Coral Snakes

These two frogs are distinct species, but closely resemble each other. One is a mimic, the other is the model. Why do you think one Frog is mimicking the other?

Several different Species of African butterfly. What type of coloration do they exhibit? Which do you think are the Mimics? What are the other ones called?

Mimicry of Body Parts (Eyespots)

Click Beetle Eyespots

Display Coloration LOOKS LIKE : whatever is attractive to the particular species Coloration and/or structures used by one gender of a species to attract mates of the same species Usually the male attracting the female Coloration often related to important aspects of the species’ survival

Caribbean Flamingo Baby flamingoes are grey or white Pink color comes from beta-carotene in shrimp that it eats Females attracted to “pinker” males; indication of health

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Peacock vs. Peahen

Magnificent Frigatebird: Which Coloration?

The End Why me, LORD ?

Other Types of Adaptations Can you think of any more? Ex: Beaks of birds, large eyes in nocturnal animals, flippers on seals 1) Morphological Adaptation: involve the structure of an organism. -Adaptations take many forms, and have 3 main types.

2) Physiological Adaptations: What other types can you think of? Ex: being able to digest a certain food, having different enzymes, tolerance to salt, less need for oxygen. Involved with the functions of an organism.

3) Behavioral Adaptations: What type of adaptation do you think Hibernation is? Ex: migration, storing food, timing of breeding. These involve an organisms reaction to its environment.

Evolving to New Species Sometimes a founder species (the original form) is broken into two or more parts, and kept separate. New species evolve because the environment changes, and the organisms have to adapt to the new conditions, or go extinct.

If the parts of the old species cannot communicate and interact, they are said to be Geographically Isolated. Can you think of another way species could be isolated, other than being on an island? Ex: Various unique species on islands, Such as Madagascar, Hawaii, and Australia

Geographic Isolation leads to Reproductive Isolation, where, eventually, the two groups will no longer be able to breed. Can you think of any examples of divergence? This is called divergence, which means “heading in different directions”. They will have become two distinct species.

Geographic Isolation

Differential Evolution over time

Reproductive Isolation

The Galapagos Finches are a classic example of geographic isolation leading to speciation, the development of new distinct species. The original finches were separated onto the various islands when they formed,and because of distance, were kept apart.

The environment of each island was slightly different, so the finches had to adapt differently on each island. Eventually, over long periods of time, they evolved into completely different species, each adapted to its conditions.