envs lecture 4 Flashcards
adaptation
features that enhance survival/reproduction in its environment
how have these features evolved
via natural selection
darwin’s dangerous idea
idea that adaptive traits evolved via natural selection
what was the explanation for adaptive design prior to Darwin
supernatural omnipotent designer
what did darwin’s idea challenge
this supernatural designer
why was darwin’s idea dangerous
b/c it challenged the idea of a supernatural creator
what were the intricacies of adaptation attributed to prior to Darwin
goal oriented intelligent design
is adaptive evolution via natural selection goal oriented
no; it just happens
how does adaptive evolution via natural selection happen
via differential survival and reproduction of individuals that have traits that allow individuals to survive & reproduce, passing on genes to next gen
could darwin point to specific cases where evolutionary change in populations was observed
no; but today we can
today where can we cite examples of adaptive evolution
in morphology, physiology, behavior, etc.
examples of adaptive evolution
plants that live in arid environments have adaptations to reduce water loss
describe adaptations in these plants in arid environments
lack leaves, thick stems (photosynthesis); hairs that reflect light and reduce temp.
another example of adaptation
rapid adaptation of soapberry bugs ito introduced host plants
how do soapberry bugs eat
pierce seed pod to feed on the seeds
describes the plants in Texas and Florida
smaller in Florida, larger in Texas
how have soapberry bugs evolved in these states
longer beaks in Texas, shorter in Florida
another example of adaptive evolution
resistance of arthropod pests insecticides
example of adaptive evolution in nature
cryptic coloration
what is cryptic coloration
butterfly that mimics color of bark, green katydid that mimics color of leaf, etc. to help insect avoid predation
another example of adaptive evolution in nature
beach mice are lighter, allows them to match sand and hide from predators; inland form has more melanin
why do these mice have diff color patterns
single base pair change in coding region of mc1r gene
what is variation in mc1r gene lead to
effects on coloration of many organism’s plumage and pelage
describe selection and adaptation in the world of avian parasites
adaptation to their host’s background coloration (evolving coloration to help blend in w/ plumage of hosts)
what kinda parasites are avian chewing lice
permanent parasites
what are permanent parasites
live their entire life cycle on the host
what is chief mechanism that most hosts use to rid themselves of parasites
visual preening
what is visual preening
see parasites, then use their bill to remove them from plumage
what kinda lice do dark birds have (color wise)
dark lice
what kinda coloration do lice have
cryptic coloration
what are feather feeding lice adapted to
to color of their host’s plumage (adapt to host’s background color)
how do hosts defend themselves against parasites
by preening w/ bills
what does cryptic coloration allow
allows lice to hide from preening
what does host preening select for
cryptically colored lice
what did pigeons that could preen normally have more of
more cryptic than conspicuous lice at the end of experiment
are all traits adaptations
no
what are some traits if not adaptive
epiphenomena, vesitigal
epiphenomena
secondary products or incidental features
examples of epiphenomena
redness of blood in mammals (like in glass catfish, selection can act to make blood less colorful)
examples of vestigial traits
not used; like remnants of eyes in cave fish
what kind of trait is an incidental feature
redness of blood
is redness of blood nonadaptive
yeah
example of a nonadaptive trait being co-opted and serving an adaptive function
during aggressive displays chough shows red bulging eyes by increasing blood flow to eyes [uses nonadaptive property of red hemoglobin for adaptive function]
who introduced term exaptation
Stephen Jay Gould and Elizabeth Vrba
what term did exaptation replace
preadaptation
why did exaptation replace preadaptation
b/c preadaptation implies evolution has a direction
what is an exaptation
trait that evolved for one purpose but co-opted for another
another explanation for exaptation
feature that now enhances fitness but was not built by nat selection for its current role
does an exaptation always start from an adaptation
no; but often does
give example of exaptation starting from an adaptation
red eyes in chough (co-opted for a new use)
example of exaptation in puffin
wings; puffin uses its wing for flight and swimming, use in swimming is exaptation
what is puffin using wing to swim example of
exaptation
what was the old function of wings
to fly
what happened to the old function
removed; no more flight
what is the adaptive force driving its evolution
ability/need to swim
another avian exaptation
origin of feathers
what reason did feathers evolve
not rlly for flight; for display
one of most famous fossils in evo bio
archaeopteryx
what was archaeopteryx an example of
intermediate fossil/form
when was archaeopteryx form
2 yrs after 1859 (origin of species)
describe evolution of feathers
evolved for display, later co-opted for flight
what is flight
exaptation
what other purposes did feathers serve
probably a lot; thermoregulatory, etc.
what did archaeopteryx have
trousers
what did ‘trousers’ support
supported origin of feathers for function other than flight; like display
exaptation of feathers
feathers evolved for one purpose (maybe display or physiological), ultimately led to flight
what did early literature assume feathers evolved for
flight
why is the idea that feathers evolved for flight not true
feathers found in theropod dinosaurs had nothing to do w/ flight
other candidates for purpose of feather
insulation, camo, courtship, water-proofing
when did first feather emerge
after a tubular feather formed in a skin follicle, and proto feather led to adaptive advantage
how do we know feathers didn’t evolve for flight
found in early theropod dinosaurs
did feathers evolve from scales? or from where
no; evolved from skin
what does ontogeny do
ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny
did feathers evolve as adaptations for flight?
no; evolved for insulation, display, etc. then were adapted/modified for flight
what is needed for natural selection in a population
variation in phenotype, inheritance of phenotype, fitness differences among phenotyeps