Adaptive Radiation Research Paper

According to the article Brian J mentioned that “during the course of evolution, traits that no longer confer a reproductive advantage do not disappear in the population unless they are reproductively disadvantageous” (37). This is because favorable traits are inherited and passed on to the next generation. Also individual who possess favorable radiations or traits have an advantage over those that don’t. Connecting back to what we talked about in class, Jean-Baptiste lamarck first attempt to explain the evolutionary process. He suggested if a dynamic relationship between species and the environment changes then an animal would also change.

Over the last several years, evolution has been playing an increasingly important role in determining how various species are evolving. This is because ecology will have an impact on how quickly a particular organism is able to adapt (with: the unique challenges for a particular environment). To determine the effect that this is having requires carefully examining different species over the course of many years. This will be accomplished by comparing these changes on Darwin and Wallace Islands. Once this occurs, is when specific insights will be provided that are highlighting the underlying challenges affecting the development of organisms. This is the point that these transformations will be evident among the various life forms. (Fasolo, 2011, pp. 53 68)

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum was a period of time around the Paleocene-Eocene boundary during which the Earth experienced a significant rise in temperature. As we discussed in class January 27-February 3, the PETM period conveniently coincides with primate evolution and dispersal worldwide. This period of thermal increase is important to primate evolution because this rise in temperature worldwide created an ideal, survivable environment for primates globally. This rise in temperature encouraged primates to expand their territories into areas not previously inhabitable, such as the Arctic Circle. Additionally, I believe that the PETM may have encouraged primates to evolve into broader adaptive radii in order to exploit more tropical food sources and landscapes. In general, it is acknowledged that the PETM allowed primates to become more pervasive worldwide.

Environmental conditions are sometimes appropriate for the evolution of numerous species from a common ancestor. Evolutionary, or adaptive, radiations happen when a large number of species descend from one lineage. This phenomenon usually occurs when a population of one species colonizes an area with many available ecological niches and when the rate of speciation is greater than the rate of extinction in a given area. Adaptive radiations have historically taken place after mass extinctions and on newly formed island archipelagos, because these incidences create conditions where new species can fill open ecological niches. Unlike the mainland, ecological niches are available on new island systems. These island species adapt to new environments

An adaptation is a result of evolution. They can be structural (physical features), behavioural and physiological (special response e.g. snake producing venom). These adapted characteristics (or mutations) develop for a creature to survive in it’s environment better, which are then passed on to its offspring. For example, the Wolly Mammoth possessed a number of physical adaptations to survive the cold

When Darwin was in the Galapagos he observed variation and adaptation. Where the animals on the island had a variation that will

Finches have become almost synonymous with the concept of natural selection, thanks to Charles Darwin. But, while he may have come up with the theory that the finches automatically choose the traits that will benefit their existence, he didn’t really provide any solid proof of this actually happening. Of course you can assume it does because of adaptation and evolution, but it would take more than a few weeks to really get concrete evidence of this happening. Fortunately, Rosemary and Peter Grant provide us with the evidence to support the theory of evolution and natural selection. They head back to the Galapagos Islands to pick up where Darwin left off and find out what really goes on in the process of the

Evolutionary changes can be both big and small. Some evolutionary changes do not create new species, but result in changes at the

The Daintree Rainforest shows how this Wet Tropics location was once isolated as well as linked with other rainforests. The national park contains tall and open sclerophyll and mangrove forests on the western margins where it is dry. Eucalypts as well as sclerophyll have progressed from “rainforest stock and radiated into drier environments from the margins of closed forests.”

The explanation of why new adaptations was essential in the new environments can be seen on the example of the evolution of light skin colour. The darkness of the skin depends on the melanin concentration. Melanin protects against the effects of UV; however higher melanin concentration makes harder to synthesise vitamin D. In Africa, where high UV radiance is common, the black skin type has evolved. As we are heading further from the equator the colour of the skin becomes lighter, because the UV radiance moderates and the synthesis of vitamin D becomes

What the main point of the article is about is the Andes Mountains or the Amazon River. It has to do with speciation because the changes in the landscape has diverged the species of each animal. Like the birds that Darwin studied the animals that adapted to the environment due to the climate or the resources that are relevant to the species. But the article says that “speciation occurred later” and what that means is most of the animals that were not use to the terrain died off until speciation took place to speed up evolution or natural selection.

The main point of the article, “mammals evolve faster on smaller islands”, is to assumed that the size of an islands lead to faster or slower rate of mammals. Mammals evolve faster on smaller islands.

Darwin concluded this was because the main island was so distance, that the finch’s that were already there adapted over time due to their different environmental surroundings, this is an example of adaptation. This suggest that Individuals that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce.

There are many different ways the populations of organisms have changed, all due to Earth’s processes. One way is by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. Though each of these natural disasters are very different from each other, they all have one thing in common, that being the fact that each can completely destroy a community or ecosystem within seconds of occurance.

Reactive adaptation refers to adaptation that take place after impacts of climate change are observed. It is the immediate response to climate change. This type of adaptation is often used in recovery. Reactive adaptation is needed in disaster recovery, emergency respond and so on. Sometimes it is not the best response when the past knowledge doesn 't match current environmental and socio-economic situations. However, people noticed that only reactive adaption is not efficient enough to deal with climate change, especially for irreversible damages such as ecosystems that cannot be recovered and extinction