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Adaptive Behaviour

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Adaptive Behaviour ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOUR Structure Introduction Objectives Colouration Source ofColour in Animals Colour Perception Adaptive Colouration Mimicry Types of Min~icty Different Forms of Mimicry Bioluminescence Luminous Organs in Fish Bioluminescent Molecules Mechanism of Bioluminescence Colour and Type of Emitted Light Significance of Bioluminescence Defence in Animals Adaptations for Defence Various Means of Defence in Animals Territorial Deknce Echolocation Sonar or Echolocation in Bats . Echolocation in Aquatic Mammals Echolocation in Birds Locomotion in Vertebrates Basic Locomotion Plans Locomotion in Water Locomotion in Air Locomotion on Ground Scansorial Locomotion Summary Terminal Questions Answers 16.1 INTRODUCTION In the earlier two units we attempted to answer the proximate question. How do animals behave in different ways in terms of genetic hormonal, neuronal and expenential differences among individuals. In this unit we seek ultimate answers i.e. the adaptive value of a particular behaviour. Adaptation is a fact of nature. Organisms are equipped in a variety of ways to survive successfully in their environment. This fitness to live under specific environmental L conditions is conferred on organisms through the interaction of variation and Natural Selection. Consequently all heritable adaptive changes are evolutionary changes. The pressing need for survival in organisms has resulted in the evolution of a variety of strategies for (a) luring the prey for food; (b) attracting the mate for reproduction, and (c) defending oneself from predators. These strategies are related to the habitat of the animal. For example, in the darkness of caves, bats and cave birds navigate and hunt through I echolocation. In the abyssmal depths of the sea, fishes emit various patterns of light for j the purposes of schooling, navigating and finding conspecific mates and food. Bright coloun possessed, by some vertebrates warn others of associated toxicity. Mimicry helps to conceal certain vertebrates from the eyes of predators. Locomotion is a characteristic of animals and vertebrates who walk run, swim, fly, climb and crawl for which their feet and body are specially adapted. Thus, apart from general adaptations necessary for day to day survival, there are special adaptations for self defence and defence of the young; for 1 securing food and mate. Some of these special adaptations that help vertebrates to cope better and increase their survival, such as colouration, mimicry, bioluminescence, I echolocation and variation in locomotion are outlined in this unit. Objectives After studying this unit you should be able to: explain the meaning and advantages of colouration and mimicry in animals, Adaptations and Behavioural Patterns enumeratt thJb various ways by which animals defend themselves and their young, discuss thle p]benomenon of bioluminiscence and its significance, explain ehhollocation in bats, aquatic mammals and cave birds, describe the (btms and postures in relation to habitat and mode of locomotion of . animals. - -- -- A plethora of GO~& adorns the skin of living organ&.. wings and bodies of many birds are brightly Jtoloured.The buttocks and scrota1 regions of monkeys and baboons are red or blue. ~,bild~sr)meorganisms are brightly coloured, others are of a subdued hue. Whether brighi[ or)d~ll,colour of the skin is of adaptive advantage. i 16.2.1 Soupc/t of Colour in Animals I 1 The colour of the (\nimal integument is due to pigments or biochromes present in cells 1 lying within tho s in, below it or in deeper tissues of the body. Pigment containing cells are called chroma tolphores. The pigment may be concentrated in the centre of the 1 chromatophore~to"i bn~duce a particular effect or it may be dispersed to produce another effect. In vertelbratI ts, chromatophores are branched cells and may function under neural 01- honnonal contrd~l(Fig. 16.1). Fig. 16.1: Vertebrakc p bnnent cells are called chromatophores. (a) Chromatophores make the skin light when tha aii hitnt is disnersed and (bb dark when ninment is concentrated. Animal pigmenb rjrsponsible for different colours are: i) Melanins fbr holwn or black colour which are contained in melanophores are the most commlon.(Mammalsare sober coloured due to the presence of melanin. Coloured pihtc kgl are seen in mandrills and baboons. ii) Carotenoich ate for yellow and red colour. The yellow pigment containing cells are called xantbo 1hores and those containing fat soluble red pigment are called i iii) ~teridines are for yellow colour. Green colour is due to and blue structural colour. Apart from ico~dblrras a result of pigments, colouration in animals may be also due to: '4 a) Structural fEolQun-Colours like the red buttocks of monkeys are due to tyndall scattering b~ th/t $;kincontaining melanin. Colours due to reflection of certain wavelength8 b9srirface layer are called structural colours. i b) lridiscent culo(ens - When colours reflected by layers of cells undergo phase interference, they produce shining colours or iridiscent colours. \ I Colour perceptiort in sniimals is due to three different types of cone cells in the retina which perceive rerpeicdvely red, green and violet colours. From the retina, the impulse reaches the visuallce41treof the brain. Fish and birds possess good colour vision. Among ) mammals, primatcos dnal some squirrels have good colour vision. ~ Adaptive Bcbaviour 16.2.3 Adaptive Colouration The major adaptive advantage of colouration is protection from predators. Such colouration assumes the following forms: i) Protective colouration or cryptic colouration helps the animal to blend with its surroundings and escape the predator's eyes. ii) Warning or aposematic colouration warns the predator of aggressive and dangerous behaviour. iii) Signal and recognition marks - Certain vertebrates posses colour patches on the skin which serve as signal and recognition marks. Specific colours may also help in attracting or recognising the mate. This is termed sexual colouration. 1.. PROTECTIVECOLOURATION Colours and body shape of certain animals help them to hide from the view of enemies through camouflage (Fig. 16.2). Both predators and the prey possess such cryptic colours which protect them from each other's eye. Fig. 16.2: Protective cvlouration of aninlsls due to their pern~anent'eolounand shapes. (a) Asian horned toad and (b) Australian brown newt and (c) Night jar bird. All of these get concealed among plants 6s their colouring and body shape blend in with tree branches leaves or forest floors. The animals in this picture are symbolically grouped together. They actually live in different regions of the world and not in the same forest. Cryptic colouration which renders the animal inconspicuous is of four types. (i) Animals may be permanently coloured such that they blend with the surroundings. Some examples are: (a) The arctic hare, arctic fox and the polar bear (Fig. 16.3 a) have milk white fur (hair) to blend with the snow covered polar regions. The camel, the gazelle and other desert animals are dull coloured and blend with the colour of sand. The tawny coat colour of the lion (Fig. 16.3 b) blends well with the colour of grasses and the terrain which it inhabits. Adaptn tions and Uehavioural Patterns Fig. 6.3: ~an8oufl~gc;of~ni~~nrls due to their permanent colour. a) The polar bear's white fur merges perfectly kip thle ice rud snotv of thr Polar region, b) The ~fricanlion's tawny coat blends successfully hvitl~idried. yellow grass and brown ground. I (b) Tree fro1 s a~$tree snakes are green and can hardly be spotted among the foliage. (c) Sea bird! lik~,gullsand terns are steel grey or blue from above and white below. TI ei~r colour harmonises with the sea when viewed from above and seen from below. upper surface is dark and the lower surface light coloured. strategy-- protects- . the fish from the predatory bird which watches t od above but cannot spot the fish as it blends 4th the darkness of deep wat~rs. The large predatory fish from below misses it as the light belly blends ~11thP c(qvlight (Fig. 16.4). j I Light 1 Fig. 16.4: Da~/kcq(l~urcd upper surface and light coloured lower surface of r fish. Animals may cl an166 their coat colour according to their surroundings by positioning andi replcllritioning the pigment present in the chromatophores. Examples are: 1 I (a) Among fisk s, minnows can change colour with the help of chromatophores. They look I'ght pear the sandy and pebbly bank of the lake and dark near the muddy bottI m.i under the influence of nerve excitation, the black pigment in I the chromarbpqare cell converts into a spherical central mass. Minute little masses of pbg~r~tbecome invisible to the naked eye and the skin seems light. When the s~krntli~tusto the nerve stops, pigment spreads out within ~lndskin appears dark. as Hyla the tree frog which is green on foliage and brown the pituitary gland or hypophysis releases a hormone intermedin cbr tnalanophore stimulating hormone (MSH).The hormone I I stimulates the dispersion or concentration of the pigment within Ada) Iive Behaviour chromatophores. (Refer Fig. 16.1) (c) The garden lizard Calotes is green among leaves and brown on twigs and on the ground. ha ma el eon (Chamaeleo) is another lizard capable of changing colours to blend with the surroundings (Fig. 16.5). a b Fig. 16.5: Protective culuuration rs seen in Chameleon which changes colour according to surroundings. (a) A leaf frond drops ever a basking Chameleon. (b) The Chameleon skin gets warmed by the frond and becomes lighter merging with the foliage. (iii) Acquired colouration: Some animals get camouflaged when they plant upon themselves other material from their surroundings. For example: (a) Sea dragon of Australian waters, Phyllopteryx has'leaf like processes which helps it, to covers itself with leaf like fronds which give this fish (a relative of sea horse) a strong resemblance to a piece of sea weed (Fig.
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