4.7.10.C.

ADAPTATIONS LEADING TO SPECIALIZATION
Adaptation is an inherited characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment (Campbell, 2001). This leads directly to specialization as specialization is the adaptation to fit to a special function or environmental position. Specialist species can only thrive in a narrow margin of environmental conditions and usually have limited variation of diet. Organisms that do not fit neatly into this group are called generalist species. Some species are highly specialized in their surroundings, while some can tolerate many different environments.

It is a rule of thumb that if an enviornmental position is unfilled, such as large land grazers, a species will soon fill it by going through changes (adaptation). Natural selection will benefit those with the characteristics that suit the new position. This is because these individuals have little competition for the position. This is exactly what happened when the mass majority of dinosaurs went extinct. Afterwards, many of the positions that were previously filled by dinosaurs were now opened for new species. These were later filled by mainly mammals. Some can only depend on certain organisms for their energy supply. The panda would be considered to be specialized as it basically eat bamboo and other plants.

ex. One would be the conversion of large land carnivors. In the dinosaur era's these were filled by reptiles, but in current day mammals dominate the realm. These mammals adapted to the position by developing physical weapons, and traits to hunt their specific prey.

A factor that can lead to specialization is the abundance of another species. If a certain species is thriving and has no predator, a species can evolve to target the thriving species. This new species will be suited with traits that prey upon the thriving species, and thus be specialized.

Return to Homepage