Ecology Week 4 Lecture Notes PDF

Ecology Week 4 Lecture 6 – Adaptations to Variable Environments  Temperature/Precipitation Fluctuations Weather: Physical conditions of atmosphere - can fluctuate over hours or days Climate: Long-term weather pattern in a particular area - can fluctuate ove...

Ecology Week 4 Lecture 6 – Adaptations to Variable Environments  Temperature/Precipitation Fluctuations Weather: Physical conditions of atmosphere - can fluctuate over hours or days Climate: Long-term weather pattern in a particular area - can fluctuate over long periods; i.e. glaciations, global warming Evolution in Response to Enviro Change Galapagos ground finch La Niña El Niño Evolution in Response to Enviro Change - La Niña from 76-78  Phenotypic Trade-offs Foraging Ability Bill Width Photo: John Stroud  Phenotypic Trade-offs Foraging Ability Bill Length  Phenotypic Plasticity Phenotypic plasticity = Capacity to change phenotype in response to physical environment  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Sight Light Waves Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Echolocation/Sonar Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water  Sight -Majority of mammals: black/white -Humans see three primary colors Human Cones  Sight -Majority of mammals: black/white -Humans see three primary colors Human Cones Honeybee Cones  Sight -Majority of mammals: black/white -Humans see three primary colors -HBs see 4 primary, 6 secondary Human Cones Hummingbird Cones Honeybee Cones What animal can see at 5000 nanometers? Infrared Vision  Infrared Vision Vampire Bats Humans Vampire Bats  Active Vision? Bioluminescence in Barbeled Dragonfish  Active Vision Splitfin Flashlightfish (Anomalops katoptron) – pouches under each eye filled with bioluminescent bacteria  Active Hearing Pressure waves (air or water) Echolocation in bats Biosonar in dolphins 24  Olfaction Molecules in air Grizzly Bear - 70 million times stronger than our smell - Detect smells 18 miles away 25  Touch Seismic communication Low-frequency calls; travel 2X faster through ground 26  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Echolocation/Sonar Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Bioluminescence Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Echolocation/Sonar Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water Balance Magnetoreception Electroreception Lateral Lines  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Bioluminescence Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Echolocation/Sonar Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water Balance Gravity Magnetoreception Earth’s Magnetic Field Electroreception Electrical Fields Lateral Lines Water Movement Lateral Lines  Electroreception Passive: Active (electrolocation): Paddlefish Weakly Electric Fish  Sensory Systems Sensory System Environmental Stimuli Active Version Sight Light Waves Bioluminescence Touch Physical Structure/ Heat Hearing Sound Waves Echolocation/Sonar Taste Molecules in Food Olfaction Molecules in Air/Water Balance Gravity Magnetoreception Earth’s Magnetic Field Electroreception Electrical Fields Electrolocation Lateral Lines Water Movement  Phenotypic Plasticity Phenotypic plasticity = Capacity to change phenotype (or behavior) in response to physical environment Examples?  Phenotypic Plasticity Phenotypic plasticity = Capacity to change phenotype (or behavior) in response to physical environment Acclimation = type of phenotypic plasticity involving physical/physiological change, reversible (= acclimatization)  Acclimation vs. Adaptation Acclimation = type of phenotypic plasticity involving physical/physiological change, reversible (= acclimatization) - Change in an individual over its lifetime Adaptation = evolutionary change in response to natural selection - Change in a population/species over generations Phenotypic Plasticity Burmese Python: after eating, intestine doubles in length, heart quadruples in size Phenotypic Plasticity Cactus Wren Phenotypic Plasticity Cactus Wren  Phenotypic Plasticity: Developmental Response Developmental Response = Irreversible plasticity (typically during development) Water Fleas  Phenotypic Plasticity in Humans Acclimation Effect Proximate Ultimate Explanation Explanation Suntanning Acclimation to High Altitude  Phenotypic Plasticity in Humans Acclimation Effect Proximate Ultimate Explanation Explanation Suntanning Increased Sunlight hitting Protect skin from melanin in skin ultraviolet (UV) skin light Acclimation to Increased red Change in Can maintain High Altitude blood cells, oxygen normal activity heart pumps concentrations despite the lower faster, etc. oxygen levels  Genetic, or Phenotypic Plasticity? How to test? For e.g., lizards: green in forest, tan on beach  Genetic, or Phenotypic Plasticity? Reciprocal Transplant Experiments (=Common Garden Experiments) For e.g., lizards: green in forest, tan on beach  Genetic, or Phenotypic Plasticity? Reciprocal Transplant Experiments (=Common Garden Experiments) For e.g., lizards: green in forest, tan on beach