Sunday 16 March 2014

The evolution and uses of adaptations in the animal kingdom: Mate Attraction

Throughout the animal kingdom there is endless possibility for the form and structure that a species can take. Within any species this form never remains static, with each individual in the population being slightly physiologically different, in some way, to its parents and its siblings. These changes can vary immensely, from small differences that have little to no impact on the ability for the individual to function, survive, and ultimately pass on its genes to the next generation, to large differences which can either lead to large positive or negative effects on the fitness of the individual.

Over time, positive physiological differences between parent and offspring can become exacerbated over generations, eventually becoming adaptive structures that increase the overall fitness of the species. These structures develop depending on the external, environmental and sexual stresses that are existing at the time for that particular species.

Specialised structures can evolve for many purposes, including defence, offence, mate attraction, as well as many others. These structures can be hidden, or visually spectacular, depending on their origins and purposes.
Some of the most spectacular adaptations can be seen when evolved for mate attraction. Examples of this are seen in the Birds of Paradise, where the males have developed extremely intricate and elaborate displays in order to impress the females.



Luke Fryer 2013, YouTube, 16th March 2014 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7QZnwKqopo>


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2 comments:

  1. Tasmin16 March 2014 at 14:51

    Cool video! You talk about behavioural / morphological adaptations (such as the courtship dance). How does this relate to the underlying physiology? Are these behaviours/structures driven by differential hormone expression (for example)?

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  2. Elsea Brewer18 March 2014 at 17:28

    Great post :). You talk about specialised structures for defense etc. Another purpose that comes to my mind is food gathering. I thought straight away to the aye-aye lemur in Madagascar that has a long, thin middle finger. It has been able to survive by creating its own ecological niche in where it uses its long finger to eat grubs out of holes in tree wood. Its a crazy looking animal.

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