Bio.2.1.2
Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms
in terms of behavioral, structural, and reproductive
adaptations.
in terms of behavioral, structural, and reproductive
adaptations.
Adaptions
Adaptions are usually a result of a successful mutation that aids the organism. Adaptions are also a result of evolution. Natural selection is a big cause of adaption because of the organism with the best qualities will reproduce more and its qualities will get passed down while the organism with the worst qualities will likely die faster and reproduce less. In time, the species or population of animal will become more structured like the organism with the best qualities.
Behavioral Adaptations
There are many examples of behavioral adaptations in animals all over the world. Here are only a few, but it will also be explained on how it aids the success of survival and reproduction.
Migration
Different animals migrate for different reasons. A few reasons are: Better climate, better food, mating, safe place to live, or raise young. Migration for better climate and food would directly relate to survival success because and organism is more likely to survive in the environment best suited to their needs. Migration for mating would show reproduction success because the organism would migrate to the place best suited to reproduce and for their young to survive.
Social Behavior
An example of social behavior would be wolves. They run in packs or some on them might even run alone. Only the alpha male and alpha female reproduce and bare pups. This is an example of natural selection because only the strongest and best reproduce. This shows reproductive success because the pups are more likely to live longer and be stronger because of their strong parents. The packs show survival success because together, they will be able to better fend off predators.
Opossum
A behavioral adaption of the opossum is to "play dead". When a opossum plays dead, it tricks its predator that it is dead and is then more likely to survive. By being more likely to survive with this adaption, it helps make survival successful because more opossums live. Because more will live, more will reproduce and that will help to make reproduction a success.
Reproductive Adaptations
Reproductive adaptations are most easily seen in the seeds of trees and flowers. They find amazing ways to survive and thrive.
Dandilions
The seeds of a dandelion are able to be spread with just a small gust of wind. Even the breath of a small child can send them flying. This aids in successful reproduction because this makes it easy for its seeds to be spread. Because this allows the seeds to be spread easily, more are likely to survive to grow into plants and that aids successful survival.
Coconuts
Coconuts are able to float miles over the ocean until they reach land. This is a very helpful adaptation because they are able to survive over the ocean until that can land on a shore to be planted. This aids in successful survival and reproduction because it allows the seeds to last longer and to travel long distances until they can grow.
Fire Resistance
There are some seeds that sprout only when there is smoke in the air. This adaptation helps with survival because when the land above the seen is burning, plants that would usually cover and take away this seeds sunlight, are now all burned away. This aids with successful survival because there is less competition for this seed when it begins to grow. It is an example of reproductive success because it will be able to reproduce easier and better without the competition for sunlight.
Structural Adaptations
Both plants and animals have structural adaptations that aid their survival and reproduction.
Teeth
Different size, shape, and function of teeth all aid with survival and reproduction. Teeth can be used for protection, but they can also be used for eating certain kinds of food. They can be used to aid survival not only because of the protection aspect, but also it allows the organism to eat the kind of food they were intended to eat.
Body Coverings
Different body coverings serve different purposes. Some are meant to keep the animal cooler, warmer, attract mates, or scare predators. Scaring away predators and regulating body temperature would all help with successful survival. Attracting mates with body coverings would increase probability of successfully reproducing and that would aid successful reproduction.
Bird Beaks
Bird beaks are probably the most commonly brought up structural adaption. The different sizes and shapes of beaks all have to do with what is in their diet. Click on the picture for a closer look, it has the beaks labelled with what the birds eat. A beak fitted for the birds diet would aid survival because it would allow them to eat what they are supposed to easily. It would aid survival because nutrition would keep it healthy and more likely to live until reproduction times.