Example of Human Adaptation;
|
Adaptation:What is Adaptation?
Biology; · Any alteration in the structure or function of an organism or any of its parts that results from natural selection and by which the organism becomes better fitted to survive and multiply in its environment. · A form or structure modified to fit a changed environment. · The ability of a species to survive in a particular ecological niche, especially because of alterations of form or behaviour brought through natural selection Physiology; The decrease in response of sensory receptor organs, as those of vision, touch, temperature, olfaction (the act of smelling/ the sense of smell), audition, and pain, to changed, constantly applied, environmental conditions. Sociology; A slow, usually unconscious modification of individual and social activity in adjustment to cultural surrounding. |
Fish, lady beetles, butterflies and peacocks have spots. But these spots are not for camouflage purposes: they
are bright colourful spots easily seen by predators. Why? Is this a problem or an advantage? (Loxley, 2010)
Ladybugs
Why do they have spots? "Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste." Is this a problem or an advantage? Advantage; "Their coloring is likely a reminder to any animals that have tried to eat their kind before: "I taste awful." A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete the unappetizing substance to protect itself." (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/bugs/ladybug/)
Fish
Why do they have spots? "Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste." Is this a problem or an advantage? Problem; If have spots, it is often classed as White Spot Disease.
Why do they have spots? "Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste." Is this a problem or an advantage? Advantage; "Their coloring is likely a reminder to any animals that have tried to eat their kind before: "I taste awful." A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete the unappetizing substance to protect itself." (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/bugs/ladybug/)
Fish
Why do they have spots? "Their distinctive spots and attractive colours are meant to make them unappealing to predators. Ladybugs can secrete a fluid from joints in their legs which gives them a foul taste." Is this a problem or an advantage? Problem; If have spots, it is often classed as White Spot Disease.
How are patterns used as an adaptation?Giraffe
Why do Giraffe's have such obvious patterns? A Giraffe's obvious pattern "... helps to camouflage them in the dappled light and shade patterns created by the trees they feed on." (Wildscreen Arkive, n.d.). Is this a Problem or Advantage? Advantage; The pattern on the Giraffe's body allows it to camouflage itself from predators. |
Butterflies and Moths
"The colours of butterfly and moth wings may serve several purposes. Colours are often used in courtship, so that male and female butterflies recognize each other as the correct species. Bright colours may also serve to warn birds or other predators that a particular butterfly, such as a Monarch or a Pipevine Swallowtail, is bad-tasting. Other butterflies and moths, although perfectly edible, may have colours that "mimic" the bad-tasting species and thereby gain protection for themselves. Finally, certain colour patterns may help the butterfly or moth blend into its background and be protected from birds or other would-be predators by background resemblance. These protective colours can be bright (like the Imperial Moth, below) and other species are dull in colour (like the Goatweed Leafwing, below)." (The Children's Butterfly, n.d.).
"The colours of butterfly and moth wings may serve several purposes. Colours are often used in courtship, so that male and female butterflies recognize each other as the correct species. Bright colours may also serve to warn birds or other predators that a particular butterfly, such as a Monarch or a Pipevine Swallowtail, is bad-tasting. Other butterflies and moths, although perfectly edible, may have colours that "mimic" the bad-tasting species and thereby gain protection for themselves. Finally, certain colour patterns may help the butterfly or moth blend into its background and be protected from birds or other would-be predators by background resemblance. These protective colours can be bright (like the Imperial Moth, below) and other species are dull in colour (like the Goatweed Leafwing, below)." (The Children's Butterfly, n.d.).