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Ecological Fitness

Ecological Fitness. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Birds. Ecological Fitness. How well an organism has adaptations well suited to its environment An ecologically fit organism has a survival advantage . Adaptation.

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Ecological Fitness

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  1. Ecological Fitness Amphibians, Reptiles, and Birds

  2. Ecological Fitness • How well an organism has adaptations well suited to its environment • An ecologically fit organism has a survival advantage

  3. Adaptation • An inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s ability to survive an environmental change • Examples: ability to grow a winter coat • Important concept: an organism cannot acquire an adaptation during its lifetime • An adaptation is coded into an organism’s DNA and cannot be changed

  4. The migration onto land • The first vertebrates were fish • Water is a nice environment • There is no weather, water temperature is fairly stable, no need to maintain body temperature • No issue with drying out • No need to protect reproductive cells, egg and sperm • No need to protect embryo

  5. Thermoregulation • Life on land requires adaptation to the wide swings in ambient temperature • Ectothermy: the body temperature of the organism is the same as its environment • Endothermy: the organism maintains a constant body temperature

  6. Amphibians • Live part of their life in the water, usually a juvenile stage • Have gills while in the water • Live on land as adults • Have lungs or not • All absorb oxygen from the air through their skin • Require that their skin stays moist, mucus

  7. Amphibians continued • 3 chambered heart, oxygen rich blood and oxygen poor blood mix • Many lay their eggs in the water • Cloaca used for excretion and reproduction • Examples: salamanders , frogs and toads • Ectothermic • Must hibernate during the winter

  8. 3 chambered heart

  9. Cloaca

  10. Reptiles • Permanent land residents • Must have adaptations against drying out, scales • Eggs must have some protection, leathery shell • Ectothermic • 3 chambered heart, usually • Cloaca for excretion and reproduction

  11. Reptiles continued • Cannot live in cold climates • In temperate zones, reptiles hibernate for the winter, usually underground

  12. Birds • Related to bird hipped dinosaurs such as T rex • Endothermic, so can live in cold environments • Eat a variety of items that are available during the winter or migrate • Brood their young, eggs have hard shells allowing mother to sit on eggs • Involved parents allows more survival from less eggs

  13. Birds and Flight • 4 chambered heart • Light bones • Feathers • One way air flow through lungs • Flying expands available food sources and decreases predation

  14. Bird Respiratory System

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