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fandomhigh2023-11-20 12:22 am
anomaly_research_nerd) wrote in fandomhigh2023-11-20 12:22 am
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Evolutionary Science for Beginners - Monday, 1st Period
Connor stood at the front of the class, coffee in hand as it was much needed that morning. Coming off the effects of benign tiny and full of boundless energy and then dealing with a massive sugar crash headache after the weekend, he definitely needed the caffeine boost.
“Alright today we are looking at the special relationships that exist between many different species of plants and animals” Connor said when it was time to begin the class. He looked over at Cutter and gave a small smile. “These are known as symbiotic relationships. Because different species often inhabit the same spaces and share—or compete for—the same resources, they interact in a variety of ways, known collectively as symbiosis. There are four main symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and competition. I will be discussing the first two of these then Professor Cutter will explain the last two.”
“Alright today we are looking at the special relationships that exist between many different species of plants and animals” Connor said when it was time to begin the class. He looked over at Cutter and gave a small smile. “These are known as symbiotic relationships. Because different species often inhabit the same spaces and share—or compete for—the same resources, they interact in a variety of ways, known collectively as symbiosis. There are four main symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and competition. I will be discussing the first two of these then Professor Cutter will explain the last two.”
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“The next type of symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. This type of relationship happens when one species lives with, on, or in another species, known as the host. The host species neither benefits nor is harmed by the relationship. An example of this from the ocean is how barnacles will form on whales over time. There is no obvious harm done to the whales but they also do not benefit from having the barnacles on them. The barnacles however do benefit as they are carried far and wide through the waters of the ocean they have greater access to food and can thus stay alive more easily than if they were attached to a stationary rock. On land, an example of commensalism can be seen in how some seeds hitch rides on animals, and even people, in order to spread from place to place. The plants can grow and thrive with less competition by reaching new areas and the animals don't really get hurt in the process either.” Connor nodded to Cutter when he finished.
Cutter was also clinging to his much needed large coffee cup as he struggled to stay awake that morning, “the next symbiotic relationship is parasitism,” he started, “Parasitism is a close relationship between species where one organism - the parasite lives on or inside another organism, which is the host and it ends up causing the host harm,” he explained, “parasites include single cell protozoans such as the agents of malaria, sleeping sickness and amoebic dysentery or animals such as lice, hookworms, mosquitoes and vampire bats and fungi such as the honey fungus and agent of ringworm and finally plants such as mistletoe, dodder and the broomrapes,”
“There are six major parasitic strategies of exploration of animal hosts and these are parasitic castration, directly transmitted parasitism by contact, trophically transmitted parasitism by being eaten, vector transmitted parasitism, parasitoidism and micropedipredation,”
“The last of these symbiotic relationships that we will be discussing is competition,” he went on, “Competition occurs when the same species compete for the same resources in the same location. Food, water, or space are examples of resources for which organisms compete with each other. Competition can be divided into two types:, Interspecific competition and Intraspecific competition. Interspecific competition occurs when members of various species compete against each other for the same resources. Predators from different species, for example, may compete for the same prey.
The lion and the hyena are on the search for prey, hence they compete with each other. There is also a link between Extinction and Interspecific Competition. Competition between species frequently results in extinction.
The less well-adapted species may receive a smaller share of the resources required by both species. As a result, members of that species have a lower chance of surviving, and the species could become extinct.
Specialization and Interspecific Competition is when competing species evolve different adaptations, specialization occurs. They may evolve modifications that allow them to eat a variety of foods. In tropical rainforests, many species of anole lizards prey on insects. Specializations have emerged as a result of their competition. Anoles feed on insects that live on the forest floor. Others collect insects in the trees. This permits different anole species to coexist in the same space without competing.
Intraspecific competition occurs when members of the same species compete against each other. Two male birds of the same species, for example, may compete for mates in the same region. Natural selection relies heavily on this form of competition. Within a species, it leads to the evolution of greater adaptations,”
Cutter finished off his part of the lecture and nodded over to Connor to finish the lecture.
“Now we know this was a bit of a longer lesson this time so we are doing a fun little activity today for the rest of class” Connor said as he handed out the work pages. “We’ll be doing a crossword puzzle and discussing the key terms we’ve learned today. And of course, Professor Cutter and I are here if you need any assistance” Connor gave a small smile as he finished passing out the papers and then went to take his seat back at the desk.
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