In evolutionary biology, when species have the same resemblance to another, common characteristics mimic one another. These similarities can be categorized in physical appearance, behavior, sound, scent, and location with particular mimics found in identical places to their models. Mimicry appears when a group of species, the mimics, develop to contribute common characteristics with another group, the models. Another form of mimicry, camouflage resembles the species surroundings and makes animals or objects difficult to see. Species mimic inanimate objects like leaves, twigs, rocks, and many other textures. Such successful mimicry researchers investigate provides complications to understand. It is a unique technique of how animals copy or mimic one another.
Coral snakes, on the one hand, provide an understanding of how mimicry is developed, the different types of classifications, how camouflage is distinguished, and aposematism (characteristics of bright colors that act as a warning to other animals). When the receiver (model) is identified and their reactions are understood, howeve...
Similarly, as arboreals, Veiled chameleons mainly reside in trees. The body design of these chameleons
This report is on a virtual experiment based on the real-life experiment accomplished by John Endler and David Reznick of the University of California. The goal is attempting to determine whether or not the level of predation effect’s the color patterns of guppies.
Long standing arguments against the theory of natural selection stem from the occurrence of incipient structures and complex traits in organisms despite the seemingly stochastic nature of mutations. Many complex adaptations observed in nature today are thought to have arisen from less complex ones with simpler functions, therefore these characters are thought to have been “pre-adapted.” In order to go from a simple to a complex structures there must have been a transitional phase, where the two structures function simultaneously or where the new function is assumed without interfering with the old function. These structures are termed incipient or incomplete, and given what we know to be true of natural selection and the theory of evolution it becomes hard to reconcile the idea that natural selection continued to favor these structures despite the lack of selective value. Incipient structures are thought to be neither sufficiently large enough not elaborate enough to perform an adaptive function and thus it also becomes difficult to understand how larger complex characters arise. A discussion of morphological and developmental genetics explains that these structures have been performing useful functions since their simple origins, therefore being selectively favored while at the same time evolving to become large enough to accumulate new more complex functions. Modification of pre-existing genes and regulatory circuits in early development has been extensively studied in metazoans, Hox genes and the development of complex structures such as eyes, limbs and appendages. Phenotypic variation is therefore generated via the modification of existing genes, regulatory processes and developmental processes and this variation is acted o...
Their proficiency with their heightened sound and smell senses gives them an advanced system of recognizing whether prey or danger is approaching, determining if danger is imminent, or guiding them to their prey. To enhance their underwater visual capacity, a protective membrane covers their eye, and the iris of the eye achieves optimal night vision. They learn to avoid constant threatening situations by navigating new routes after a single encounter, which has prevented numerous attempts of their capture by human
The theory of Social Darwinism stems from the idea that the human species can progress by following the principal of Charles Darwin’s natural selection, in which he states that plants and animals that can adapt to changes in their environment are able to survive and reproduce, while those that cannot adapt will die. Social Darwinists applied this biological concept to social, political and economic issues, which created the “survival of the fittest” attitude, as well as competition and inequality between social groups. This paper will discuss some of the proponents of this theory, the results of their interpretation and application of the theory, and why this theory no longer holds a prominent position in Anthropological theory.
Did you know a mongoose and cobra, natural born enemies, have resemblances? Yes, there are a few and many interesting differences I will be telling you as well. In the following paragraphs, I will be sharing what I researched.
The Axolotl, a crucially endangered neotenous species of mole salamander, has adapted to fit its environment so it can easily catch food and evade predators. The Axolotl’s habitat is the lake system of Xochimilco that is near Mexico City, Mexico. This shallow, fresh water lake complex has a temperature range of 6- 20°C and a pH of 7- 12. The complex also has the Axolotl’s primary food sources of mollusk, insect larvae, and other crustaceans. However, with the introduction of foreign species such as the Asian Carp and the African Tilapia, the Axolotl now has predators that may eat and threaten it, and it has competition for the animals it usually eats. Fortunately, the Axolotl has developed adaptations that aid it in catching food and evading predators. To help it catch food the Axolotl’s teeth are shaped like cones, so that its “vacuum” action of sucking in as much water in order to also eat food is aided by the shape of the teeth, which allow it to grip, rather than chew. To aid them in avoiding predators they are able to metamorphose so that they use their lungs more than their gill, which allows them to leave very toxic waters and the predators within. Another adaption that helps them deflect any predator is that they are able to regenerate body parts that have been lost, allowing them to stay as strong as possible. Axolotl’s have adaptations that aid their survival from predators in the lake complex Xochimilco that they reside in.
This chapter discusses The Evolutionary Perspective, Genetic Foundations, reproductive Challenges, and Heredity-Environment Interactions. Natural selection is the process by which those individuals of a species that are best adapted survive and reproduce. Darwin proposed that natural selection fuels evolution. In evolutionary theory, adaptive behavior is behavior that promotes the organism’s survival in a natural habitat. Evolutionary psychology holds that adaptation, reproduction, and “survival of the fittest” are important in shaping behavior. Ideas proposed by evolutionary developmental psychology include the view that an extended childhood period is needed to develop a large brain and learn the complexity of human social communities. According to Baltes, the benefits resulting from evolutionary selection decrease with age mainly because of a decline in reproductive fitness. At the same time, cultural needs increase. Like other theoretical approaches to development, evolutionary psychology has limitations. Bandura rejects “one-sided evolutionism” and argues for a bidirectional lin...
The movie “Imitation of Life” was derived from the novel Imitation of Life by Fannie Hurst. The movie is about two single mothers who had to bring up their daughters by themselves, having been widowed. One of the women is black while the other one is white. The movie is set at a time when the climate was characterized by racism and capitalism. Using melodrama, and dilemmas of single motherhood, this paper will relate the events in the movie and the experiences of the single mothers as they struggled to raise their children, with social aspects like societal norms, ethnocentricity, grouping, race, and social class.
The purpose of this academic piece is to critically discuss The Darwinist implication of the evolutionary psychological conception of human nature. Charles Darwin’s “natural selection” will be the main factor discussed as the theory of evolution was developed by him. Evolutionary psychology is the approach on human nature on the basis that human behavior is derived from biological factors and there are psychologists who claim that human behavior is not something one is born with but rather it is learned. According to Downes, S. M. (2010 fall edition) “Evolutionary psychology is one of the many biologically informed approaches to the study of human behavior”. This goes further to implicate that evolutionary psychology is virtually based on the claims of the human being a machine that can be programmed to do certain things and because it can be programmed it has systems in the body that allow such to happen for instance the nervous system which is the connection of the spinal cord and the brain and assists in voluntary and involuntary motor movements.
The theory of Social Darwinism is the belief that humans and different races are to have the same laws of natural selection. It is was created by a man named Herbert Spencer although they didn’t name him the creator until the 1930’s This theory was more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. Social Darwinism is also ruled but the theory of survival of the fittest. Survival of the fittest is the belief that the more adapted will survive the best. This theory is seen in the novel The Jungle. Its seen by the people who are trying really hard. The ones that work hard are usually the ones who will last longer. For example if you aren’t working hard then you probably won’t have that job long. Also if you are used to working in tough conditions
Different theories try to explain this phenomenon, with a traditional belief that color vision has evolved for finding food in the forest, due to the capacity of discriminating red-green colors (Surridge, Osorio, & Mundy, 2003, p. 198). However, Changizi et al. (2006, p. 1) has been investigating another theory according to which color vision in primates “was selected for discriminating the spectral modulations on the skin of conspecifics” for other reasons than just finding the correct food supplies, such as discriminating emotional states or socio-sexual signals. In their investigation, the researchers found out that there are two skin spectral modulation to which trichromats are sensitive, but dichromats are not (Changizi, Zhang, & Shimojo, 2006, p.
Undoubtedly, the claim that all human behaviour can be explained by evolutionary psychology in some way is an ambitious one, but that is perhaps because evolutionary psychology attempts an ambitious goal: to unify not only psychological disciplines, but also the anthropological, sociological and biological. With this in mind, it is easier to see how the foregoing conclusion might be possible, probable even. At the very least, it is undeniable that evolutionary psychology provides a foundation with which to explore and interpret human behaviour even in spite of those subjects with which it says little about.
Survival of the fittest. This idea, also known as Darwinism, was theorized by scientist Charles Darwin to explain the evolution of animal species. In the late 1800s, however, the idea of Social Darwinism emerged and applied the same concepts of Darwinism but on humans not animals. As defined by the dictionary, Social Darwinism is a belief, popular in the late Victorian era throughout the world, which states that the strongest or toughest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die (“Social” 1). Science fiction writer H.G. Wells lived when the ideas of Social Darwinism were at their peak. He was able to see firsthand what effects Social Darwinism had on the world, and he was by no means impressed. By examining the different critical lenses of The Time Machine, the reader can see how H.G. Wells warns how the adverse effects of Social Darwinism are endangering the future of humanity.