The fitness of organisms is the result of the action of evolutionary factors. The relative nature of fitness. Adaptability of organisms and its relative nature What types of adaptations are there what is their nature

One of the results, but not, which is the natural guiding driving force of the process, can be called the development of all living organisms - adaptations to the environment. Ch. Darwin emphasized that all adaptations, no matter how perfect they are, are relative. Natural selection forms an adaptation to specific conditions of existence (at a given time and in a given place), and not to all possible environmental conditions. The variety of specific adaptations can be divided into several groups, which are forms of adaptability of organisms to the environment.

Some forms of fitness in animals:

Protective coloration and body shape (camouflage). For example: grasshopper, snowy owl, flounder, octopus, stick insect.

Warning coloration. For example: wasps, bumblebees, ladybugs, rattlesnakes.
Frightening behavior. For example: bombardier beetle, skunk or American stink bug.

Mimicry(external similarity of unprotected animals with protected ones). For example: a hoverfly fly looks like a bee, harmless tropical snakes look like poisonous snakes.
Some forms of fitness in plants:

Dry adaptations. For example: pubescence, accumulation of moisture in the stem (cactus, baobab), turning leaves into needles.
Adaptations to high humidity. For example: large leaf surface, many stomata, increased evaporation rate.
Pollination by insects. For example: bright, attractive flower color, presence of nectar, smell, flower shape.
Adaptations for wind pollination. For example: the removal of stamens with anthers far beyond the flower, small, light pollen, the pistil is strongly pubescent, the petals and sepals are not developed, do not interfere with the blowing of other parts of the flower by the wind.
Fitness of organisms - the relative expediency of the structure and functions of the body, which is the result of natural selection, eliminating individuals unadapted to the given conditions of existence. Thus, the protective coloration of a brown hare in summer makes it invisible, but unexpectedly falling snow makes the same protective coloration of a hare inappropriate, as it becomes clearly visible to predators. Wind-pollinated plants remain unpollinated in rainy weather.

Plants and animals are remarkably adapted to the environment in which they live. The concept of “fitness of a species” includes not only external signs, but also the correspondence of the structure of internal organs to the functions they perform (for example, the long and complex digestive tract of ruminants that eat plant foods). The correspondence of the physiological functions of the organism to the conditions of its habitat, their complexity and diversity is also included in the concept of fitness.

Adaptive behavior is of great importance for the survival of organisms in the struggle for existence. In addition to hiding or demonstrative, frightening behavior when an enemy approaches, there are many other options for adaptive behavior that ensures the survival of adults or juveniles. So, many animals store food for the unfavorable season of the year. In the desert, for many species, the time of greatest activity is at night, when the heat subsides.

What is the relative nature of any adaptation of organisms to the environment?
= What is the relative nature of fitness?

Answer

When conditions change, fitness can become useless or harmful. For example, a white birch moth is clearly visible on a red wall.

The peacock butterfly has bright eye spots only on the upper side of the wings. Name the type of its coloration, explain the meaning of coloration, as well as the relative nature of fitness.

Answer

Color type - mimicry.
Color meaning: a predator can mistake the eye spots on the wings of a butterfly for the eyes of a large predator, get scared and hesitate, which will give the butterfly time to escape.
Relativity of fitness: bright colors make the butterfly visible to predators, the predator may not be afraid of the eye pattern on the butterfly's wings.

The wasp fly is similar in color and body shape to a wasp. Name the type of its protective device, explain its meaning and the relative nature of the device.

Answer

Type of protective device - mimicry.
Meaning: resemblance to a wasp scares off predators.
Relativity: being like a wasp does not guarantee survival, because there are young birds that have not yet developed a reflex, and specialized buzzards.

Name the type of protective device from enemies, explain its purpose and relative nature in a small seahorse fish - a rag-picker that lives at shallow depths among aquatic plants.

Answer

The type of protective device is camouflage.
The similarity of the seahorse with algae makes it invisible to predators.
Relativity: such a similarity does not give them a full guarantee of survival, since when the skate moves and in open space, it becomes noticeable to predators.

Name the type of adaptation, the value of protective coloration, as well as the relative nature of the fitness of the flounder, which lives in sea water near the bottom.

Answer

Type of coloration - patronizing (merging with the background of the seabed). Meaning: the fish is invisible against the background of the ground, this allows it to hide from enemies and from possible prey.
Relativity: Fitness does not help with fish movement, and it becomes visible to enemies.

In the industrial regions of England during the 19th-20th centuries, the number of birch moth moths with dark-colored wings increased compared to light-colored moths. Explain this phenomenon from the standpoint of evolutionary teaching and determine the form of selection.
=Explain the cause of industrial melanism in moth butterflies from the standpoint of evolutionary theory and determine the form of selection.

Answer

First, one of the butterflies developed a mutation that allowed it to take on a slightly darker color. Such butterflies are a little less noticeable on sooty trunks, therefore, a little less often than ordinary butterflies, they were destroyed by birds. They more often survived and gave offspring (natural selection took place), so the number of dark butterflies gradually increased.
Then one of the slightly darker butterflies had a mutation that allowed it to become even darker. Due to camouflage, such butterflies more often survived and gave birth, the number of dark butterflies increased.
Thus, due to the interaction of the driving factors of evolution (hereditary variability and natural selection), butterflies developed a dark masking color. Selection form: driving.

The body shape of the Kalimma butterfly resembles a leaf. How did a similar body shape form in a butterfly?
= Caterpillars of the turnip white butterfly have a light green color and are invisible against the background of cruciferous leaves. Explain, on the basis of evolutionary theory, the appearance of protective coloration in this insect.

Answer

First, one of the caterpillars developed a mutation that allowed it to acquire a partially green color. Such caterpillars are slightly less noticeable on green leaves, therefore, they were destroyed by birds a little less than ordinary caterpillars. They more often survived and gave birth (natural selection took place), so gradually the number of butterflies with green caterpillars increased.
Then one of the partially green caterpillars developed a mutation that allowed it to become even greener. Such caterpillars, due to camouflage, survived more often than other caterpillars, turned into butterflies and gave birth, the number of butterflies with even greener caterpillars increased.
Thus, due to the interaction of the driving factors of evolution (hereditary variability and natural selection), the caterpillars developed a light green camouflage color.

Bee-like flies, which do not have a stinging apparatus, are similar in appearance to bees. Explain the emergence of mimicry in these insects on the basis of evolutionary theory.

Answer

First, one of the flies developed a mutation that allowed it to acquire a slight resemblance to a bee. Such flies were eaten a little less often by birds, more often survived and produced offspring (natural selection took place), so the number of flies resembling bees gradually increased.
Then one of these flies developed a mutation that allowed it to become even more like a bee. Such flies, due to mimicry, more often than other flies survived and gave birth, the number of flies with even greater resemblance to bees increased.
Thus, due to the interaction of the driving factors of evolution (hereditary variability and natural selection), mimicry under bees arose in flies.

On the body of a zebra that lives in the African savannas, dark and light stripes alternate. Name the type of its protective coloration, explain its significance, as well as the relative nature of fitness.

Answer

The zebra has a dissecting coloration. Firstly, such coloring hides the real contours of the animal from the predator (it is not clear where one zebra ends and another begins). Secondly, the stripes do not allow the predator to accurately determine the direction of movement and speed of the zebra. Relativity: against the backdrop of the savannah, brightly colored zebras are clearly visible.

The moth caterpillar lives on the branches of trees and at the moment of danger becomes like a twig. Name the type of its protective device, explain its meaning and relative nature.

Answer

Device type: camouflage. Meaning: A twig-like caterpillar is less visible and less likely to be eaten by birds. Relativity: on a tree of a different color or a pole, such a caterpillar will be clearly visible.

In the process of evolution, the white hare developed the ability to change the color of the coat. Explain how this adaptation to the environment was formed. What is its significance and how does the relative nature of fitness manifest itself?

Answer

Meaning: The hare has a white coat in winter and gray in summer in order to be less visible to predators.
Formation: mutations arose by chance, giving the hare this coat color; these mutations were preserved by natural selection, since hares that were invisible to predators survived more often.
Relativity: if a hare gets on a surface without snow in winter (rock, conflagration), then it is very clearly visible.

Name the type of protective coloration from enemies in females of open nesting birds. Explain its meaning and relative nature.

Answer

Type of coloring: masking (merge with the background).
Meaning: a bird sitting on a nest is invisible to a predator.
Relativity: when the background changes or the bird moves, it becomes noticeable.

The adaptability of an organism to its environment is of great importance in the process of survival of living beings and is the result of natural selection.

The existence of an evolutionary mechanism of fitness ensures maximum adaptation to the conditions in which the species lives.

Fit - what is it?

It consists in the correspondence of the structural features, physiological processes and behavior of a living organism to the environment in which it lives.

This mechanism increases the chances of survival, optimal nutrition, mating and raising healthy offspring. This is a universal feature inherent in all creatures of the planet from bacteria to higher forms of life.

This mechanism of adaptation manifests itself in a very diverse way. Plants, animals, fish, birds, insects and other representatives of flora and fauna are quite inventive in choosing the means that contribute to the preservation of their species.

The result is a change in color, body shape, structure of organs, methods of reproduction and nutrition.

Features of adaptability to the environment and their result

For example, the body of a frog merges with the color of water, grass and makes it invisible to predators. The white hare changes color from gray to white in winter, which helps it to be invisible against the background of snow.

The champion in camouflage practice is the chameleon. But, alas, the opinion that it adapts to the color of the place in which it is located somewhat simplifies the real picture. The color change of this amazing lizard is a response to exposure to air temperature, solar UV rays, and even mood.

And instead of camouflage, the ladybug uses a different coloring strategy - scaring away. Its rich red color with black dots gives a signal that this insect can be poisonous. This is not so, but what difference does it make if such a move helps to survive?

The head of a woodpecker is an excellent example of the formation of a certain body shape, structure and functioning of organs. The bird has a powerful but elastic beak, a very long thin tongue and a cushioning system that protects the brain from injury when the bird's beak hits the tree trunk with the strongest blows.

A curious finding is “aggression” in plants. Stinging nettle petals are a great defense against herbivores. Camel thorn has modified leaves and roots, thanks to which it successfully retains moisture in desert conditions. The method of feeding sundew, eating flies, allows it to obtain nutrients in a very uncharacteristic way for a plant.

Geographic speciation

It is also appropriate to use the term “allopatric” formation of species. It is associated with the expansion of the habitat, when the species occupies more and more territories. Or with the fact that the territory is divided by natural barriers - rivers, mountains, etc.

In such a situation, there is a collision with new conditions and new “neighbors” - species with which you need to learn how to interact. Over time, this leads to the fact that, thanks to the ability to adapt, the species is forming and genetically fixing new beneficial traits.

Representatives of geographically isolated populations do not interbreed. As a result, they begin to have a number of rather striking differences from their relatives. So, the marsupial wolf and the wolf from the order of predators, as a result of selection, diverged quite far in their features.

Ecological speciation

It is not associated with a direct expansion of the range. It occurs as a result of the fact that within the same range, habitat conditions may vary.

So, among plants, an example can be the species diversity of dandelion, which differs in the territory of Eurasia.

The relative nature of the fitness of the cactus

The plant demonstrates an amazing ability to survive in the harshest drought conditions: a waxy film and thorns minimize evaporation, a well-developed root system is able to go deep into the soil and accumulate moisture, needles protect against herbivores. But, in a situation of heavy rains, the cactus dies from an excess of moisture due to rotting of the root system.

The relative nature of the fitness of the polar bear

In Latin, this bear is called Ursus maritima, which means sea bear. Its coat is perfectly adapted to cold water.

It does not allow water to pass during swimming and almost completely delays the release of heat from the skin of the animal. But, if you place a polar bear in warmer living conditions for its brown relatives, it will die from overheating.

The relative nature of the fitness of the mole

This animal lives mainly in the ground. It has a streamlined body shape, powerful spade-shaped limbs with developed claws. He very cleverly digs multi-meter tunnels.

And at the same time, he does not orient himself on surfaces at all: his visual system is undeveloped, and he can only move by crawling.

The relative nature of the fitness of the camel

The camel's hump is his pride! Precious water accumulates there in drought conditions. Of course, not in the literal sense of water, these are H2O molecules associated with lipid, fat cells.

The animal can endure hunger for a long time, lie on hot sand, and sweating is minimized. It was not just that the nomads of the Sahara traveled on camels. But, alas, in snowy conditions, this hardy handsome man will not be able to cope with movement, nutrition and maintaining body temperature.

How do plants adapt to pollination by insects?

The flowers of plants are beautiful, unlike each other, you want to admire them! True, the biological significance of this beauty is not at all to please a person.

The main task of a flowering plant is to attract an insect pollinator. For this, several main ways are used: the bright color of large flowers, the aroma pleasant for insects, the crowding of small flowers in inflorescences and, of course, the nutritious nectar inside the flower.

Conclusion about the adaptability of organisms to the environment

The identification of patterns and the study of the adaptations of the animal world in various forms of terrestrial, aquatic, air life is an important and infinitely interesting topic for researchers. Because it reveals the main ways of the evolutionary process of modification of living beings.

Natural selection is the driving force behind evolution

Natural selection is a process that favors the survival of the fittest and the destruction of the less fit. More adapted individuals have the opportunity to leave offspring. The material for selection is individual hereditary changes. Harmful changes reduce the fecundity and survival of individuals, while beneficial ones accumulate in the population. Selection always has a directional character: it preserves those changes that are most consistent with environmental conditions, increase the fertility of individuals.

Selection can be individual, aimed at preserving single individuals with traits that ensure success in the struggle for existence within the population. It can also be group, fixing signs favorable for the group.

I. I. Shmalgauzen determined the forms of natural selection.

1. Stabilizing - aimed at maintaining the average rate of reaction of the trait against individuals with extreme, deviant traits. Selection operates under constant environmental conditions, is conservative, and is aimed at preserving the main features of the species unchanged.

2. Driving - leads to the consolidation of evading signs. Selection acts in changing environmental conditions, leads to a change in the average reaction rate, the evolution of the species.

3. Disruptive, tearing - aimed at maintaining individuals with extreme signs and the destruction of individuals with average signs. It acts in changing conditions, leads to a split in a single population and the formation of two new populations with opposite characteristics. Selection can lead to the emergence of new populations and species. For example, populations of wingless and winged forms of insects.

Any form of selection does not occur by chance, it acts through the preservation and accumulation of useful features. The selection is the more successful for the species, the greater the range of variability and the greater the diversity of genotypes.

Fitness - the relative expediency of the structure and functions of the body, which is the result of natural selection, eliminating unfit individuals. Traits result from mutations. If they increase the viability of the organism, its fecundity, allow to expand the area, then such characters are "caught up" by selection, are fixed in the offspring and become adaptations.

Types of fixtures.

The shape of the body of animals allows them to easily move in the appropriate environment, making organisms inconspicuous among objects. For example, the streamlined shape of the body of fish, the presence of long limbs in a grasshopper.

Camouflage - the acquisition of the resemblance of an organism to some object of the environment, for example, resemblance to a dry leaf or tree bark of a butterfly's wings. The body shape of the stick insect makes it invisible among the branches of plants. Needlefish are not visible among the algae. In plants, the shape of the flower: the position on the shoot promotes pollination.

Protective coloring hides the organism in the environment, making it invisible. For example, a hare has a white color, a grasshopper has a green one. Dissecting coloration - the alternation of light and dark stripes on the body creates the illusion of chiaroscuro, blurs the contours of the animal (zebras, tigers).

Warning coloration indicates the presence of toxic substances or special protective organs, the danger of the body to a predator (wasps, snakes, ladybugs).

Mimicry is the imitation of a less protected organism of one species to a more protected organism of another species (or environmental objects), which protects it from extermination (wasp flies, non-poisonous snakes).

Adaptive behavior in animals is a threatening posture that warns and scares off the enemy, freezing, caring for offspring, storing food, building a nest, burrows. The behavior of animals is aimed at protection and preservation from enemies and the harmful effects of environmental factors.

Plants have also developed adaptations: spines protect against eating; the bright color of the flowers attracts pollinating insects; different time of maturation of pollen and ovules prevents self-pollination; variety of fruits promotes seed dispersal.

All adaptations are relative in nature, as they operate under certain conditions to which the body is adapted. When conditions change, adaptations may not protect the organism from death, and, consequently, the signs cease to be adaptive. Narrow specialization can cause death in changing conditions.

The reason for the emergence of adaptations is that organisms that do not meet these conditions die and do not leave offspring. Organisms that survive in the struggle for existence have the opportunity to pass on their genotype and fix it in generations.

The adaptability of organisms is the result of natural selection. Prepared by Chiritso Elizaveta, a student of the 11th "M" class.

it is a combination of those features of the structure, physiology and behavior that provide for a given species the possibility of a specific lifestyle in certain environmental conditions. Adaptation -

How are adaptations formed? C. Linnaeus: Species are created by God and are already adapted to their environment. J. B. Lamarck: the formation of fitness by the desire of organisms for self-improvement. Charles Darwin: explained the origin of fitness in the organic world with the help of natural selection.

Adaptations to the environment are manifested in the external and internal structure, life processes, behavior. The shape of the body of various animals is an example of the adaptability of organisms to the environment. The protective coloration and body shape of some animals make them invisible against the background of the environment, masking them. Some animals have bright colors that make them stand out from their surroundings. This coloring is called warning. Some defenseless and edible animals imitate species that are well protected from predation. This phenomenon is called mimicry. Protection against eating is characteristic of many animals and plants. They protect themselves. Behavioral adaptations are changes in the behavior of animals in certain conditions: care for offspring, the formation of separate pairs during the mating season, and in winter they unite in flocks, which facilitates food and protection, frightening behavior, freezing, imitation of injury or death, hibernation, food storage . The adaptability of life processes to living conditions are called physiological adaptations: the accumulation of fat by desert animals, glands that get rid of excess salts, thermal location, echolocation. Biochemical adaptations are associated with the formation in the body of certain substances that facilitate defense against enemies or attacks on other animals.

Forms of adaptations Examples Description of adaptations Body shape Protective coloration (camouflage) Warning coloration Mimicry Behavioral adaptations Classification of adaptations

Body shape The streamlined shape of the body allows the dolphin to reach a speed of 40 km / h in the water. The peregrine falcon, in pursuit of prey, develops a speed of 290 km / h. The speed of the penguin in the water column is 35 km / h.

Protective coloration (camouflage) In openly nesting birds, the female sitting on the nest is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding background. Corresponds to the background and pigmented egg shells. Interestingly, in birds nesting in hollows, on trees, females often have a bright color, and the shell is light. Quail and its eggs Redstart, cuckoo egg in redstart nest

Protective coloration (camouflage) A surprising resemblance to twigs is observed in stick insects. The caterpillars of some butterflies resemble knots, and the body of some butterflies is like a leaf. The effect of protective coloration is enhanced when it is combined with the appropriate behavior: at the moment of danger, many animals freeze, taking a resting pose.

Warning coloration Very bright coloration (usually white, yellow, red, black) is characteristic of well-protected poisonous, stinging forms. Having tried several times to taste the “soldier” bug, ladybug, wasp, the birds eventually refuse to attack the victim with a bright color. Sand efa Bed bug - soldier Ladybug

Mimicry The viceroy butterfly repeats the shape and color of the wings of the poisonous monarch butterfly. The fly mimics the appearance and behavior of the bee This is the similarity of a defenseless or edible species with a well-protected and warning color

Mimicry The milk snake successfully imitates the coloration of the coral snake. As a rule, the number of copied individuals is many times higher than the copying ones.

Behavioral adaptations A characteristic feature of the opossum's behavior is the ability to pretend to be dead in danger, in this "game" the opossum is simply inimitable. changes in behavior in certain conditions Frog paws. The desert amphibian, which lives most of its life in burrows, goes hunting at night when the heat subsides.

Behavioral Adaptations River beaver stores up to 20 cubic meters. fodder Male stickleback builds a nest with 2 exits - care for the safety of offspring

The relative nature of fitness Poisonous snakes, dangerous to many animals, are eaten by mongooses. The hedgehog defends itself from the fox with needles and curls up into a ball, but if there is a stream nearby, the fox rolls it into the water, where the muscles of the hedgehog open up and it becomes easy prey.