EVOLUTION

ADAPTION &
NATURAL SELECTION

Shenise Balkisson​, Venai Ramcharran, Marlon McCarthy

EVOLUTION
Evolution can be defined as any net directional
change or any cumulative change in the
characteristics of organisms or populations
over many generations in other words, descent
with modifications. It explicitly includes the
origin as well as the spread of alleles, variants,
trait values, or character states.
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EVOLUTION EXAMPLE:
- Ostriches and emus evolved to have larger bodies
and feet made for running on land, which left them
without the ability to fly
ADAPTION
Adaptation is the ability of an organism to
withstand extreme environmental conditions
physically. Adaptation can be interpreted first by
developing a limited range of modifications to
individual organisms. However, the changes they
develop are not permanent nor are passed to their
offspring. The second type refers to population
size and genetic traits that allow them to live in
certain environments.
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ADAPTATION
EXAMPLE:
-The way some plants have adapted to life in dry, hot
deserts. Plants called succulents have adapted to this
climate by storing water in their short, thick stems
and leaves.
NATURAL SELECTION
Natural selection it the process which living
organisms adapt and change. Individuals in a
population are naturally variable, meaning they
are all different in some ways. This means that
some individuals have traits better suited to the
environment than others.
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NATURAL SELECTION
EXAMPLE:
-Evolving long necks has enabled giraffes to feed on
leaves that others can't reach, giving them a
competitive advantage. A better food source, those
with longer necks were able to survive to reproduce
and so pass on the characteristic to the succeeding
generation.
CHARLES
DARWIN’S
THEORY ON
EVOLUTION
THEORY ON EVOLUTION
• Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who
proposed the theory of biological evolution by
natural selection.

• Darwin defined evolution as "descent with

modification," the idea that species change over
time, give rise to new species, and share a common
ancestor.
THEORY ON EVOLUTION

• The mechanism that Darwin proposed for evolution

is natural selection. Because resources are limited
in nature, organisms with heritable traits that favor
survival and reproduction will tend to leave more
offspring than their peers, causing the traits to
increase in frequency over generations.
THEORY ON EVOLUTION

• Natural selection causes populations to become

adapted, or increasingly well-suited, to their
environments over time. Natural selection depends
on the environment and requires existing heritable
variation in a group.
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Elesapiens
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CASE STUDY

Galápagos archipelago (Daphne

Major, Isla Genovese, Wolf)
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GALÁPOGOS ISLANDS
TYPES OF FINCHES:

• 1. Certhidea Fusca (Warbler Finch) - very thin

pointed beak used to probe leaves and catch small
insects and larvae.

• 2. Geospiza Difficilis ( Sharp-beaked Finch) slightly

larger and more cone shaped beak used to consume a
varied diet of both insects and small seeds.
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GALÁPOGOS ISLANDS
TYPES OF FINCHES:

• 3. G. Difficilis Septentrionalis - used their sharp arrow head

shaped beaks to cut wounds on large sea birds, such as the
Nazca and drink their blood.

• 4. G magnirostris (large ground Finch) used their large, broad

and deep bill finch-shaped beak that can be deployed to crush
the large and hard seeds.5. G Conirostris (large cactus finches)
elongated yet robust beak adapted for penetrating firm covers
of cactus fruits and closed cactus flower buds.
 STAGES OF EVOLUTION OF MAN

1. Dryopithecus (Oakwood apes) : - they're said to be the

ancestors of men. - lived in China, Africa, Europe and
India.- it is believed that this species lived in tropical,
densely forested lowlands.- could have been herbivores.
2. Ramapithecus: - discovered remains in Punjab and
Africa.- lived in open grasslands- thickened tooth enamel,
robust jaws and shorter canines- usage of hands for food and
defence (assumed)
 STAGES OF EVOLUTION OF MAN

3. Australopithecus: - fossils first discovered in 1924, South Africa- lived on

ground, walked upright, used stones as weapons- it can be assumed based on
fossils that they were on average 4 feet tall and 60-80 pounds.

4. Homo erectus: - first fossil found in Java 1891- these fossils were named
pithecanthropus erectus-considered the missing link between men and
apes- specimen was found to have had large cranial capacities and is believed to
have loved in communities.- used tools made of quartz and bones- made fires-
believed to have resided in caves
 STAGES OF EVOLUTION OF MAN

6. Homo sapiens: - remains first discovered in Europe.- The remains were

named Cro Magnon- the jaws were reduced and the modern man's chin appeared
and skull rounded.- created art for the first time.
 THANK YOU

Shenise Balkisson, Venai Ramcharran, Marlon McCarthy​

mirjam@contoso.com
www.contoso.com