Physical Adaptations

Animals depend on physical features to: obtain food keep safe build homes withstand weather attract mates.

Physical Adaptations

Do not develop during an animal's life but over many generations.

Examples: shape of a bird's beak number of fingers color of the fur thickness or thinness of fur shape of the nose or ears

Anti-Predator Strategies

Defensive adaptations include:Predator avoidance

Hiding and camouflage

Group defenseFleeingSignal

Warnings

Costs and Benefits of Camouflage

Many organisms avoid predators by the use of cryptic coloration.

A requirement of camouflage in many cases is that the individual choose an appropriate background.

Natural Selection – Survival of the Fittest

Natural selection rests on three facts:

1. Organisms produce more offspring than can survive.

2. Individuals vary in their characteristics.

3. Many characteristics are inherited by offspring from their parents.

Logically then.......

• Some individuals will be better suited to their environment

They will survive and reproduce more successfully than individuals without those characteristics.

• Future generations: contain more genes from better-suited individuals.

• Result: characteristics will evolve over time to resemble those of the better-suited ancestors.

Peppered Moths – Adaptation in Action

Two Kinds: White speckled moth Black moth.

In early 1800’s dark form was very rare. Dark form caused by dominant mutation

that occurs spontaneously.

Peppered moths rest on trees and depend on camouflage for protection.

Peppered Moth

Unpolluted Areas: trees are covered in lichens and the light form of the moth is hard to see.

In mid 1800’s air pollution in British cities covered trees with soot.

In cities dark form became common and light form rare.

Peppered moth

In mid 1950’s pollution controls were introduced in Britain and frequency of the black moth form has declined since then.

Peppered Moth Video