ADAPTATION &
VARIATION
Hibernation
Camouflage Warning & Signaling Mimicry
• Adaptation: a structure, behaviour, or
physiological process (gradual and
accumulative changes) that helps an organism
survive and reproduce in a particular
environment.
Examples of adaptations:
• structural adaptation - vision of an owl &
camouflage
• behavioural adaptation – nocturnal (bat),
parasitic, symbiotic, burrowing (mole),
swarming (travel together)
• physiological adaption - Hibernation – allows
an organism to survive in harsh conditions
VARIATIONS
• Differences between organisms
• Environmental conditions determine whether
a variation in an individual has a positive or a
negative effect on survival and reproduction
• How do environments change?
Floods, droughts, famines, climate changes
What is Protective Resemblance?
• The evolvement of a species to increase
chances of survival, using markings, colour, or
other traits (shape, sound etc.)
• Three Main Categories:
o Warning and Signaling
o Mimicry
o Camouflage
Warning and Signaling
• Animals are highly noticeable: bright colours or
distinct designs
Poison
Arrow
Frog
Coral Snake
Yellow-winged Darter Dragonfly
• Organisms are equipped with defense mechanisms:
o Poisonous Venom
o Stings
o Fangs Fangs
Stings
o Repellant
Skunk
Pheromones/signaling
• Chemical substance secreted by an animal that
causes a reaction in members of its own species
• Pheromone uses:
o Warning Predators Ants
o This ant will
Territorial Distinction leave a
o Signaling Danger pheromone
trail when
o Recruitment returning
Canines
o Sexual Attraction home.
Catfish
Silkworm Moth
Mimicry
• A harmless species resembles (mimics) a
harmful species
• Mimicked object or animal has a selective
advantage – dangerous – therefore predators
would avoid it
Examples
Mimicked Monarch
Viceroy
Mimicked Coral Scarlet King Snake
Snake
Hawk Moth
Caterpillar Robber Flies Mimicked Bee
CAMOUFLAGE
• Animals blend in with their surroundings using :
Colour
Texture
Shape
Colours Poste
Posture
• Assists the Prey: they are concealed from their
Texture
predator
• Assists the Predator: they are able to capture
food more easily
Examples
Saga Pedo Indonesian Mimic Octopus
Bottom Feeding Flounder Baron Caterpillar
Poecilocampa Populi
Mountain Goats
The Goldenrod Crab Spider
• has the capacity of changing colour by
secreting a liquid yellow pigment into the
outer cell layer of the body.
The English Peppered Moth & Pollution (page 299)
• The population of moths changes as the environment changes
• 3 colour variations:
greyish-white flecked
with black dots, black, and an
intermediate colour
• 1840’s black moths made up less than 2 % of English moth
population near Manchenster, England
• Peppered moths are active at night, they rest on trees during the
day prey
• Trees were covered with light-coloured lichen, thus the white
moths were camouflaged more white moths than black, black
were eaten by birds
50 years later… Industrial Revolution
• During the Industrial Revolution soot was
EVERYWHERE !!!
• Soot killed lichens and soot
covered trees
• White moths are now seen by
birds and eaten decreased
population over successive
generations
• Black moths now camouflage,
survive, pass on their genes
increased population over
successive generations
1950’s clean air legislation in England
• In 1950’s 9 out of 10 moths were black
• Lichens grow again due to cleaner air
• White moths increase in population over time
• By 1990’s, 3 out of 10 moths were black
