Question

An adaptation or adaptive trait is a trait/characteristic that has evolved in a population of organisms which provides a functional advantage. Adaptations increase the biological fitness of a population. Fitness is defined as the ability to survive and pass genes on to subsequent generations. For the purposes of this assignment, you are to choose an adaptive trait common to more than one species. For example, birds and bats both have wings. Write a 2-3 page (500 – 750 words, 12 point font) paper including the following elements. Be sure to compose your work with your own words. Do not copy and paste from any source. Please NO Need Copy past.

Answer 1

Adaptative traits occur due to evolution which means changes over a long period of time. It occurs when there is a sudden change or if a mutation occurs. Adaptation is necessary for the organism to survive in its habitat and be able to protect themselves from the predators, climate changes and other species in the same environment. The adaptative traits may be

• Physiological- Change in body process to help an organism to survive or for reproduction
• Behavioral- Change in the responses from the organisms to survive or for reproduction.
• Structural- Change or modification of any feature of the animal body to survive or reproduce.

Camouflage is a behavioral adaptation. It is like a mimicry where the body color of an organism blends with its environment for protection from the predator and also to hunt prey species. Examples are

• tree lizard sitting on the branch
• white polar bear in the snow environment
• spider hiding on tree bark, etc.

Camouflage can be

1. Mimesis-- Animals are seen but they resemble something else.Eg. Insects such as African twig mantis camouflaged with its environment.
2. Crypsis- Animals camouflaged for being not visible. Eg. Fox in the snow hides from polar bears and also to attack its prey

Camouflage works when one blended with its environment.

Types of camouflage can also be divided into

• Concealing coloration- Animals hides against the background of the same color.Ex. animals living in the arctic are white.
• Disruptive coloration- Spots, lines etc. on the animal body makes the other animals not able to recognize the outline of their body.Ex. The herd of zebra looks like a herd of the tiger from a distance.
• Disguise coloration- Animals hides not by blending its color but by blending their shape and patterns with its surrounding. Ex. Insects

Humans also use camouflage since the starting of human civilization for protection and hunting. Now a -days military operations use this to hide from enemies.