Diversity Galapagos Islands Galapagos Islands n Located about
Diversity
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands n Located about 600 miles west of Ecuador n Consists of 13 volcanic islands and numerous islets and rocks n Discovered by accident in 1535 n First scientific study done in 1835 by Charles Darwin while aboard the HMS Beagle
Galapago’s Finches
Diversity of Beak Forms n Beak form and function are related to survivial
Natural Selection n Organisms with characteristics suited to their environment will survive and produce the most offspring n “Survival of the fittest” n Adaptations will be passed to future generations
Niches n Role of an organism in an ecosystem n Includes resources utilized, relationships, and activities the organism engages n Each species has its own niche
Terminology n Ecosystem – all living organisms in a given area and their interactions with their environment n Species – a group of organisms that is able to breed freely and produce viable offspring
Bird’s Feet
Diversity of Beak Forms
Diversity of Beak Forms
Diversity of Beak Forms
Habitat Requirements n What do you need to survive?
Habitat Requirements n Food n Water n Shelter n Space
Biotic Potential
Limiting Factors n Interspecies competition n Intraspecies competition n Disease n Predation n Disasters n Balance other factors such as birth rate, early reproductive age. n Effect is to increase death rate n Produces S-curve
S Shaped Curve
Carrying Capacity Number of individuals an ecosystem can support indefinitely. Resources are not used faster than they are replaced!
Human Interference n Increase available food sources n Decrease available space n Elimination of predators
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