Benefits of Genetic Diversity Lab

Actual lengths of Hindlimb and Tail

Relative Hindlimb and Tail Length

Graph of lizard groupings

1.     At the beginning of the virtual lab, you were asked to sort eight lizards into categories. What criteria did you initially use to make your groups? At the beginning I categorized the lizards by color.

2.     Did you revise your criteria later? Why? Yes, once I learned more criteria and variances I was able to better sort the lizards into habitat/living categories.  This was much more accurate, as it directly correlated to their leg and tail length.

3.     An adaptation is a structure or function that is common in a population because it enhances the ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment. Provide one example and an explanation of one adaptation in the Anolis lizards.

-Some lizards developed shorter legs to be able to move more nimbly and quicker along twigs and small branches, large legs would get in the way and hinder the lizards.

-Yet other lizards grew longer legs to be able to run quicker across the ground, shorter legs along the ground would have slowed them down.

4.     Provide one evolutionary explanation for why lizards living in the same part of the habitat (i.e., grass) would have similar characteristics. They would have the similar characteristics because they are living in the same environmental niche, and as a member of the same species in the same niche they are competing for the same food, and most likely in evading the same animals that prey upon them.

5.     What is an ecomorph? Provide one example from the virtual lab. An Ecomorph, simply breaks down by Eco-the part of the environmental niche they occupy, and morph the physical characteristics of their body.  An ecomorph is of the same species but have morphed so they may live in different niches and have to compete against each other for food, such as the Ground Lizard whom live on the ground and have longer legs to run quicker vs the twig lizards that are a little higher up in the trees and have shorter legs to run along the branches quickly.

6.     How is an ecomorph different from a species? Ecomorphs differ in the simple fact that they do not compete against each other for food, they have adapted so that they all live in different areas to not put as much strain on the environment or their species.

7.     Explain how a particular body feature of one of the lizard ecomorphs from the virtual lab is an adaptation to their particular niche. The Tree Lizards have developed large toe-pads that prevent them from falling off the smooth leaves at the top of trees.