Natural Selection

P.O.D.
List the significance of the following
concepts:

Giraffe neck length

Darwins finches
Peppered moths
 Standard S7L5
Students will examine (look at) the
evolution (change over time) of living
organisms through inherited (present
at birth; from parents) characteristics
(uniqueness; individuality) that
promote (help; encourage) survival of
organisms and the survival of
successive (later) generations (age
groups) of their offspring (babies;
children).
 Element B
Describe (Explain; Tell) ways in which
species on earth have evolved (changed)
due to natural selection (the process
through which members of a species that
are better suited to their environment
survive and reproduce at a higher rate
than other members of their species).
 Essential Question
How has natural selection led to the
evolution of species?
 Natural Selection
The process by which favorable heritable
traits become more common in successive
generations of a population of reproducing
organisms, and unfavorable heritable traits
become less common.
Known as Survival of the Fittest
How adaptation take place.
 More Examples

Peppered" moths were very

common in England during the
industrial time.
These insects varied in body
coloration from light to dark.
 During the 19th century, smoke from
coal burning furnaces killed the lichen
on the trees and darkened the bark.
Lichen made the trees appear lighter
in color. Let review what a Lichen is.
The moths depended on the tree for
shelter/protection.
When moths landed on these trees,
the dark colored ones were harder to
spot by the birds who ate them.
 The white moth started to be
preyed upon more often. Only
a small amount survived to
reproduce.
Over generations the
environment continued to favor
darker moths.
As a result, they progressively
became more common.
 By 1900, 98% of the moths
in the vicinity of English
cities like Manchester were
mostly black.
However, during the
1950's, air pollution controls
significantly reduced the
amount of pollutants
reaching the trees.
 As a result, lichens have grown back
making trees lighter in color.
Since the trees now appeared lighter
again, darker moths were unable to
blend in.
As a result, darker moths started to
be preyed upon.
 Giraffe Evolution-
Another Story

A giraffe in a "classic" feeding position,

extending its neck, head, and tongue to reach
the leaves of an Acacia tree.
 Giraffe Evolution-
Another Story
The idea is that the giraffe got its long
neck due to food shortages in the lower
reaches of trees because many short
animals competed for feed in the lower
parts of the tree.
Over time, only the giraffes with long neck
were about to get food, survive and
reproduce.
The giraffes with the short neck died and
their gene for the short neck was
eventually lost.
 Adaptation

A characteristic or trait that

helps an organisms survive
in its environment.
 How Does It Occur?

Can develop only if there is

variety within the offspring
of a species.
This variety is a result of
gene variation.
 Examples

Spiny leaves on a cactus:

reduces water loss and keeps
plant from being eaten.
Bird beaks: adapted according
to what the bird eats.
Examples of Adaptations

Orchids fool
wasps into
mating with
them.
 Examples of Adaptations
Katydids
camouflage
themselves to
look like leaves.
If they cannot
camouflage
themselves, they
will be eaten.
Overtime those
that could not
died.
 Examples of Adaptations
Non-poisonous
king snakes
mimic
(mimicry)
poisonous
coral snakes.
 Examples of Natural Selection

Non-
poisonous
king snakes
mimic
(mimicry)
poisonous
coral snakes.
 More Examples of Natural
Selection
Katydids
camouflage
themselves to look
like leaves.
If they cannot
camouflage
themselves, they
will be eaten.
Overtime those
that could not died.
YouTube - octopus
YouTube - The Indonesian
Mimic Octopus
YouTube - Wild orchid wasp
mimic - David Attenborough -
BBC
 More Examples of Natural
Selection
It is said that rattle
snakes are
undergoing natural
selection right now.
More and more rattle
snakes are being
born with soundless
rattles.
Can you explain why?
 Writing to Win
Strategy: D
Expectations 5-8 sentences
Topic: Natural Selection

How has natural selection led to the

Evolution of species?