evolutionary process involves constant updates, the emergence of useful features, their consolidation in the bodies of living creatures.And these changes are not necessarily occur at the genetic level.Very important idioadaptation - adaptations of animals, plants and micro-organisms for specific environmental conditions, environmental factors, and the physical characteristics of the area.
mechanism of devices - a deep evolutionary process that generates the desired characteristics over time, gradually.Enshrines the essential characteristics of the genome of living beings to manifest in future generations.
adaptation, or adaptation of organisms
Very often you can find the body of vegetable or animal origin, which has some unusual feature in the structure, behavior or appearance.For example, stick insects, which outwardly did not differ from the branches of a tree.Or fly hoverfly, which has exactly the same color, like a wasp.Among the plants examples are tolstostebelnye fleshy cactus, stilted and aerial roots, roots-props.
In any case, all this - the adaptation to habitat, environmental conditions or to protect themselves from other creatures.Such events are very important because they are the important stages of the evolutionary process.The mechanism of devices always is based on exactly the genetic sample and consolidate important and relevant genes coding for expression of a trait.For example, the gene responsible for the color change chameleon, was formed in the genome of these animals thousands of years ago and are still handed down to all future generations.
plant adaptation: a general description of
Adaptations plants are an integral part of their lives.All of them can be divided into several main groups.
- to temperature environments.
- Humidity Sensor.
- capable of pollination.
- to consume food.
mechanism of devices meets all the same basics - evolutionary changes with fixing and transfer by inheritance to the specific conditions required features.Therefore, if a plant is adapted to the area, the environmental conditions, temperature, all their future generations, it is required to give all the features for a comfortable existence.
Plants in dry conditions
When the temperature regime, which is dominated by very high values and constant sunny days, adaptations in plants have a pronounced character, aimed at reducing the moisture evaporates.As well as saving on weight and nutrients associated with water inside the stem.
For this leafy plates are reduced to a minimum or completely modified.The most typical example is the desert plants - cacti.Severe conditions of existence under a blazing hot sun made these plants convert leaves prickly needles and the stem - in a thick fleshy stem, filled with parenchymal cells (base cloth) with plenty of bound and free water.
mechanism of devices cactus very clearly shows how skillful can plant in their adaptation.Through thorns plant does not evaporate the water from the leaf surface, which means that it saves a large amount.In addition, the stalk, a modified under a thick fleshy stem, is an accumulation of a number of substances that hold water.For example, accumulated:
- hydrophilic protein molecules;
- proline (an amino acid retains water);
- monosaccharides and various organic acids.
also the mechanism of occurrence of a cactus adaptations include the production of compounds hormonal nature, which hamper the action of growth hormone (gibberellins, auxins).This allows the plants to grow quickly stop upon the occurrence of adverse conditions, lasting a long time.
Adaptations to different types of pollination
Another striking example of adaptation in plants is their ability to adapt to the pollinators.For example, wind-pollinated seeds dry form shapes and light that just will dissipate even not strong air movement.
Entomophilous If the plant, then it generates a specific structure of the flowers and colors:
- brightly colored;
- large or collected into large florets;
- with strong pleasant aroma.
structure of the flower can also be adapted for pollinators.There are plants pollinated strictly certain kind of birds or insects.
cross-pollinated or self-pollinating plants in the structure of the flower have long stamens and pistil are deeply planted, to the pollen reaches the stigma.Each of such devices plays an important role in reproduction and is also attached in the genome genetically.
Terms excessive moisture for plants
in tropical and subtropical habitats are often the phenomenon of excess humidity.It is known that in some areas tropical downpours can go more than a month.Of course, such an excess of water is very harmful to plants.Therefore, some species have formed a certain adaptation to minimize the impact of such nature.It gidatody - mouth of water, increasing the amount of water released by the plant.She leaves intact drops.This phenomenon is called Guttation.
also adaptations to excessive moisture plants are large leafy plate with a huge number of stomata.Accordingly, transpiration is also enhanced.
mechanism of adaptations in animals
Fauna forced not only to adapt to the environmental conditions, but also to defend themselves against attacks more powerful individuals for whom they are - food.This led to the formation of several types of adaptations in animals:
- changing the shape of the body and limbs, wool (skin, feathers) cover;
- protective coloration;
- mimicry (imitation of a protected and dangerous animals);
- cautionary coloring;
- repellent behavior.
striking example of devices by changing the shape of the body, limbs and sheets are birds (feathers, tip, lightweight skeleton, streamlined shape of the body).Also, aquatic mammals and fish that have fins and tails, smooth surface, the lack of a strong coat.But they present air bubbles lateral line (fish), webbed feet (waterfowl), fins (marine mammals).
protective coloration seen in many animals, both terrestrial and aquatic.For example, green grasshopper hiding in the grass, pipefish hiding themselves in seaweed.Chameleons moth (caterpillars rod), Kalima (butterfly, imitating a piece), speckled quail, white and gray coloring of birds and many other examples, reflecting adaptations in animals.
Mimicry, ie imitation in order to protect themselves from eating and attacks characteristic of, for example, flies, hoverflies (resembles a wasp), some species of snakes, poisonous snakes copying and so on.
warned coloring insects and animals is aimed at a fair warning inedibility species, its virulence.Examples are poisonous snakes, wasps, bees, bumblebees, ladybugs and other representatives.This is a very common device in animals.
repellent behavior - a hissing, growling, otprygivanie aside, deflation of biological fluids (ink octopus and squid, skunks).It also may include certain features that are in the cold season form flocks to facilitate obtaining food.
All of these devices are evolutionarily formed and genetically-established mechanism for education.
adaptation of polar bears
mechanism of polar bear adaptations formed in extremely cold habitat.His adaptation is aimed at preserving the warmth and food production.These include:
- patronizing white coloration (camouflage);
- thick layer of subcutaneous fat, which plays a dual role: thermal insulation and ease of body weight while swimming and diving;
- dense and thick warm fur covering the entire surface of the body.
Due to their polar bear adaptations can not be afraid of even the most severe cold weather.A white color allows him sneaking up to the power supply - seals.
tools underground mammals
most striking representative is, of course, mole and all his relatives (zokor, mole rats, and others).Therefore, in his example, consider adaptation.The mechanism of the mole devices associated with underground habitat, devoid of some of the important abiotic factors: light, sufficient moisture, heat.Therefore, the adaptation of the animal following:
- powerful digging limbs;
- lack of vision;
- a thick layer of fat;
- smooth and rigid black wool;
- streamlined body shape.
major adaptations of desert animals
to that in the first place are camels, their various kinds.The mechanism of camel devices formed in a lack of moisture and high temperatures.Adaptation following lines:
- presence of glands, get rid of extra salt in the body;
- low potootvedenie;
- ability to starve for a long time, losing weight by one-third;
- special features of digestion and metabolism;
- presence of humps filled with fat, storing bound water;
- rapid saturation with water to replenish domestic stocks.
All these adaptations do for camels desert conditions quite comfortable and suitable for life.
