BIO-8 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Copepod, Glucosinolate, Stoma
Document Summary
Many organisms have evolved adaptations to variation in enemies, competitors, and mates. Many species alter their growth, body shape, and behavior in response to the presence of predators predator to find or consume the prey. These alterations improve prey fitness by making it difficult for the. Example: amoeba growing with or without predators in their environment: production of spiky helmets when predators are present. Plants have the ability to respond to the presence of herbivores. Ex: when virginia pepperweed is eaten by herbivores, the plant develops leaf hair (i. e. , trichomes) and glucosinolate compounds that make the leaves difficult to consume. Organisms have evolved a variety of phenotypically plastic strategies for high and low competition. Animals may spend more time looking for food or alter digestive morphology. Longer intestines can help extract more nutrients from ingested food. Ex: the burmese python may come across a meal only once a month.
