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    Evolution Essay 1

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    Evolution Essay 1

    Uploaded by

    api-251804834
    187 views3 pages

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    evolution essay 1

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    187 views3 pages

    Evolution Essay 1

    Uploaded by

    api-251804834

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Lions are one of the most well known predators of the world.

    With seven
    centimeter long teeth and thirty eight mm long claws, lions are a force to
    be reckoned with (Unknown, 2014).These characteristics are adaptations
    which has allowed the lions to survive and thrive in their habitat. Lions
    have multiple adaptations that have evolved through the modes of sexual
    and natural selection.

    The manes of male lions play a big role in sexual selection. They increase
    males' reproductive success. A recent study found that females nd
    males with darker manes much more attractive than those with lighter
    ones. (Image 1). Darker maned males also had higher testosterone levels,
    had better injury recoveries, had o"spring that were more likely to survive,
    and spent more time as pride residents. The mane is similar to a sexually
    selected status symbol that males use to advertise themselves (Unknown,
    2014). However, this is not the only form of sexual selection that a"ects
    lions.














    Another form of sexual selection is infanticide. This usually occurs with
    lions when a male who is not the father of a cub kills it. A typical lion pride
    has one or sometimes two adult males, and multiple females. If another
    male takes over the pride, they will usually immediately kill any small
    cubs. The pride females will quickly become fertile once again, and mate
    with the new male. This gives the male many more chances to pass on his
    genes and reproduce. The males have no reason to keep the cubs alive.
    Image 1. A dark maned male mating with a female.
    The male lion in the image has a considerably dark
    mane. That helped him attract the lioness to mate
    with her. He now has a much higher chance of
    passing on his genes and having more o"spring
    They are dispensable and there is no point in wasting their time or energy
    on the o"spring of another male. Keeping these cubs does nothing to
    help them (Morell, 2014). Lions are not the only animals that do this.
    Female meerkats will kill each other's young to secure the survival of their
    own because there are limited resources that the group can provide.
    Sexual selection is just one way of evolution though.

    Natural selection has also played a huge role in the evolution of lions. One
    example of this is there teeth. They have canines which are seven
    centimeters long, and jaws which can apply 690 pounds of pressure and
    can open up to eleven inches. Their teeth and their jaw are structural
    adaptations. They help them slice meat and rip it away from the bone.
    This can be helpful to eating fast before scavengers come to feed on their
    kill. The coloring of their fur di"ers depending on the region that they live
    in. Cooler and more humid areas tend to have lions with darker fur. They
    also have black fur on their tails and the back of their ears to be able to
    spot each other through long grass (Unknown,2014). Natural selection
    has been a big factor in the adaptations of lions.

    Sexual selection and natural selection have caused many evolutionary
    adaptations in lions. Through time, they have evolved into a strong and
    feared predator. Their many adaptations are what distinguishes them from
    all other life forms on Earth. Lions are just one example of the millions of
    species on earth, and the unique adaptations of every life form. Through
    evolution, all of these species are unique and special.

    Citations:

    "Mane Research." College of Biological Sciences |. Web. 20 May 2014.

    Morell, Virginia. "Why Do Animals Sometimes Kill Their Babies?" National
    Geographic. National Geographic Society, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 May
    2014.

    "Physiology - ALERT | African Lion & Environmental Research Trust."
    Physiology - ALERT | African Lion & Environmental Research Trust. Web.
    20 May 2014.


    Image:

    "Male Lion Mating - Burrard-Lucas Photography." BurrardLucas RSS.
    N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.

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