Is this evolutionary conservation of the pecten structure evidence that natural selection might be maintaining the pecten in its present form in many bird species? Is this theory one that suggests the pecten has a significant adaptive function in birds? Do you believe that experiments might be useful in determining the adaptive function of the pecten if it indeed serves an adaptive function? Outline a simple experiment to see whether the presence of a pecten in the bird's eye is an adaptation.

Is this evolutionary conservation of the pecten structure evidence that natural selection might be maintaining the pecten in its present form in many bird species? Is this theory one that suggests the pecten has a significant adaptive function in birds? Do you believe that experiments might be useful in determining the adaptive function of the pecten if it indeed serves an adaptive function? Outline a simple experiment to see whether the presence of a pecten in the bird's eye is an adaptation.

Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)

4th Edition

ISBN:9781305389892

Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan

Publisher:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan

Chapter41: Sensory Systems

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 2ITD

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Similar questions

Do you believe that experiments might be useful in determining the adaptive function of the pecten, if it indeed serves an adaptive function? Outline a simple experiment to see whether the presence of a pecten in the bird eye is an adaptation.
Evolutionary biologist Neil Shubin once said, "In one sense, evolution didn't invent anything new? It's using the old to make the new, and we call that tinkering." How does the concept of the evolution of the complex eye and the idea of exaptations support Dr. Shubin's statement? Explain and give an example.
One of Darwin’s finches, the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis), is found on the small island of Daphne Major. These finches are seedeating birds. A major drought occurred on the island in 1977. Following the drought, the average beak size of medium ground finches had increased about 3%–4%. Why might a drought lead to an evolutionary change in beak size? Propose a hypothesis and explain how you could go about testing it.
Answer the following: This spectacular animal is a Lesser Bird of Paradise, Paradisea minor, from the highlands of Papua New Guinea. In the context of various evolutionary phenomena, why do you suppose: (a) This bird is confined to New Guinea and two nearby islands? Why would you not expect to find it in the mountains of Borneo? Explain in detail. (b) This spectacular tail presumably attracts predators; why hasn't natural selection acted to reduce it or camouflage it? Explain in detail.
There are two main groups of bats: Smaller “microbats” navigate by using sonar, and larger “megabats” rely on vision. Mammalogists once though that both kinds of bats evolve from insectivorous mammals. But similarities between the visual systems of megabats and primates have led some researchers to think that megabats may have evolve from primates, perhaps lemurs. What results would support the hypothesis that the two groups of bats have a common origin? Separate origins?
Ostrich wings are vestigial because they are too rudimentary to perform the function for which they evolved in the species’ flying ancestor. Nonetheless, the ostrich uses its wings for other purposes. For example, an ostrich may extend its wings to the side while running, to help maintain balance, and it may spread its wings as part of a threat display. These uses show that evolution by natural selection can sometimes repurpose vestigial structures that have lost the function for which they originally evolved. But whether a vestigial structure remains useless or acquires a new function, it is homologous to the version that retains its original function in other organisms and provides evidence of common ancestry. But are all similarities between different organisms the result of shared ancestry?
Which of the following is true about the evolution of sensory bias? a. The sensory perception being exploited must have evolved before the exploitative trait b. The evolution of sensory bias provides direct benefits to the female c. The trait exploiting the sensory system can evolve before the sensory system. d. Sensory bias only occurs in animals with sight or sound.
Explain the difference between generalized and specialized characteristics. What are examples of each in terms of the adaptive potential? Define the term “adaptive radiation” and explain why it is important to the principle of evolution. Why was adaptive radiation especially important to mammals’ eventual rapid evolutionary success and diversification? What are some of the different groups of mammals?
Define natural selection using the 5 points below to explain its role in understanding primate behavior. (1) there is variation among individuals; (2) some of that variation is heritable; (3) there is always competition between individuals for resources; (4) some variants outcompete other variants and leave more offspring; (5) to the extent that the parent's traits are heritable, then a larger portion of the next generation will reflect those traits.
Many lines of evidence, including biochemical evidence, show that living birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs. A number of dinosaur lineages had feathered dinosaurs, not just the lineage that includes living birds. Do you think that is it justified to believe that all feathered dinosaurs had behaviors known from living birds? Such behaviors of birds include colonial nesting, sexual displays by males using feathers, males moving to display their ornamental feathers to female mates. Give a brief reason for your answer.
Regarding the evolution of the mammalian inner ear, the above diagram shows:A) the co-option of jaw bones (colored) for use in hearingB) the loss of jaw bones (colored) and the origin of de-novo hearing bones C) the evolution of synapsids, which have little to do with mammalian evolutionD) the results of a population bottleneck which led to the fixation of odd alleles for ear development
You are a researcher studying birds in an Indonesian rainforest. You have just discovered two new species whose beaks are markedly different, which you have named Laetiphonia orthorhynchus and Laetiphonia rhamphis. In particular, the beaks of L. orthorhynchus are very long, straight and pointed, whereas L. rhamphis have beaks that are quite short, wide and curved downwards. In further studies, you find that the same gene codes for beak shape in both species. In your own words, explain at least two ways that changes in gene expression could result in the differences you observe between these two species. Make sure to be specific in how your explanation applies to the bird species in this example.