The Evolution Of Flightless Birds

To compare the impact of evolution on different organisms a study was conducted by: carefully examining the species of birds with each other. This was accomplished through using a sample population of 200 birds. Moreover, there were other factors that were taken into account (in order to ensure objectivity and accuracy). The below table is illustrating those factors that were considered to be the most important during this study. ("Evolution Lab," 2012)

The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner explores evolution through the most famous examples in history—the finches of the Galápagos Islands. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the process of evolution are applied directly to what scientists refer to as Darwin’s Finches. Weiner follows scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant as they study the finches in real time on the Galápagos. Years of previous work, study and data is collected and analyzed. Different species of animals are observed and explained throughout history. The Grants have one goal, and that is to find the origin of the species, how organisms first began. They find that it really is about the “survival of the

The Evolution Lab simulates environmental situations to determine effects on evolution over periods of time. This lab experiments with the evolution of finches on two different islands over 100, 200, and 300 years. By manipulating parameters that influence natural selection, the effects that natural selection have on the evolution process can be studied.

The Avis Papyrus, more commonly known as the Carmel Origami Bird, native to the sparsely spaced Cool Creek Islands, was subject to a study of its evolutionary success. These birds must travel long distances to get between the islands they inhabit in order to survive long enough to produce offspring; meaning that being able to fly long distances aids in their fitness. The development of these beneficial characteristics are possible because of something called natural selection. Natural selection is the gradual process over the course of generations where a species gradually develops and excludes traits and characteristics (Fukuyama, 2004). This is to help increase reproductive success of an organism and increase the animals fitness. The experiment looked at how natural selection led to their evolution and it’s raw data shows evidence that the Origami Birds have met evolutionary success due to natural selection.

As seen with Anolis, single species of organisms have the ability to undergo adaptive radiation and become new species by filling niches in a given environment. This is prevalent not only in Anolis, but other model organisms as well, such as finches, sticklebacks, and cichlids. All of these organisms have gone through the similar mechanisms and processes to evolve into different species. Alike to Anolis, they have gone through reproductive isolation, adaptation, and convergent evolution. Due to a poor fossil record of Anolis, the other model organisms may give better outlook on how they have diverged overtime. Further investigations on all of these organisms and their evolutionary mechanisms would not only give better a better idea of ecological speciation, but more comprehension on the origin of all

1. There are many ecological and biological factors that affect evolution. In EvolutionLab, two populations of finches are tracked over the course of 300 years on two different islands to see how changing the traits of the birds and their environment affect their long term viability as a sustainable population. Let’s begin by doing a “null experiment” where conditions are identical on the two islands.

Charles Darwin originally produced a theory after monitoring Finches on the Galapagos Island that ‘individuals that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce. This means that their genes are less likely to be passed to the next generation. Given enough time, a species will gradually evolve’ (BBC, 2014). For example, ‘Grey Treefrogs (Hyla Versicolor) and Green Treefrogs (Hyla Cinerea) in the Southern United States seem to be ecologically equivalent. While Grey Treefrogs and Green Treefrogs seem to occupy the same habitat, when we look closer we can see that through their ranges overlap, Grey Treefrogs live farther north than Green Treefrogs. We can also see the Grey Treefrogs prefer wooded areas with temporary pools, while Green Treefrogs prefer more open wetland areas with cattails and other aquatic vegetation. On a tree in a wooden area, the Grey Treefrog is much harder to detect. In a wetland, the situation is reserved’ (Michigan State University,

Evolution is thought to be acting very slow usually over millions of years. However, it can happen suprisingly quick. In this documentary, we look at a fish that evolved to change its body between two states reversibly multiple times over a few thousands years during the last ice ages. Morever, the documentary exposes the fact that like a single trick pony, this fish has been doing the same evolutionary acrobacy for more than 20 million years successfully. Biologists have observed many examples for gains and losses of characters. Take the blind cave fishes for example. In lightless environments the advantage conferred by the eyes is diminished and there’s no selective pressure to maintain this

In the case of ring species, natural selection and sexual selection each play a role in the divergence of ring species. Selective pressures allowed one phenotype to survive better than others in a certain area; sexual selection could cause divergence because organisms choose mates based on phenotypes. In the case of salamanders, natural selection affected divergence because organisms with certain coloration survived better in coastal or inland environments. In warblers, sexual selection and natural selection seem to play a part in the divergence of the ring species, as forest density and migration distance is variable and affects survival of the species. Molecular and morphological evidence can be used to support multiple species by showing

There is a continuous, uncertain scientific argument among biologists with respect to the speciation of populaces: would they say they are the same species or two separate species? The argument in this paper is, whether the two “Western” Flycatcher populations, Cordilleran population and Pacific slope population are the same species or two separate species.

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

As stated by the World Health Organization, “all fifteen HA subtypes and nine DNA subtypes have been detected in free flying birds”. (WHO, 2005, 12) They, in turn, provide a huge and highly mobile pool of genetic diversity.

Non-historical definitions of adaptations are more useful for modern interpretations of adaptations. Gould and Vrba’s hypothesis finally addressed the origin of the adapation and claimed “an adaptation was a trait whose “historical genesis” was due to the same selective pressure as that which currently maintains the trait.” An adaptation which no longer had a selective pressure was named an

The environmental changes that took place throughout history caused species of animals to adapt to the changing conditions. One such animal where this is especially apparent is the evolution of the horse. In order to survive, horses evolved traits such as longer limbs, rigid teeth and others that allowed them the best chance of survival. Overall, it is apparent that the morphology of the horse changed due to environmental conditions, especially when studying the fossilized teeth, jaws, and limbs.

Birds have beautiful feathers and lovely songs that bring joy and wonder to us humans. And flight is the feature that probably captures the human imagination more than anything else. For millennia, people have watched birds in the sky and wished we could fly, too.