Adaptation: Difference between revisions

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An adaptation is a characteristic of an organism whose form is the result of [[natural selection]] in a particular functional context <ref> Williams, G.C. 1966. Adaptation and Natural Selection.Princeton University Press. ISBN-10: 0691026157</ref> Similarly the process of adaptation is the [[evolution]]ary modification of a character for efficient or advantageous ([[fitness]]-enhancing) functioning in certain contexts. Consistent with these definitions, adaptations can be [[physiological]], [[behavioral]] or [[morphological]] features of organisms that enable them to survive and reproduce in the face of various agents of selection.  
An '''adaptation''' is a trait of an organism that is maintained or spread by either [[natural selection]] or [[indirect selection]].  Such a characteristic does so by confering a higher [[inclusive fitness]] than other available analagous characteristics in other individuals in a population <ref> Alcock, John. 2005. Animal Behavior. Sinauer Associates. ISBN-10:0878930051</ref> The process of adaptation is the [[evolution]]ary modification of a character for efficient or advantageous ([[fitness]]-enhancing) functioning. Consistent with these definitions, adaptations can be [[physiological]], [[behavioral]] or [[morphological]] features of organisms that enable them to survive and reproduce effectively.  


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 15:27, 19 July 2007

An adaptation is a trait of an organism that is maintained or spread by either natural selection or indirect selection. Such a characteristic does so by confering a higher inclusive fitness than other available analagous characteristics in other individuals in a population [1] The process of adaptation is the evolutionary modification of a character for efficient or advantageous (fitness-enhancing) functioning. Consistent with these definitions, adaptations can be physiological, behavioral or morphological features of organisms that enable them to survive and reproduce effectively.

References

  1. Alcock, John. 2005. Animal Behavior. Sinauer Associates. ISBN-10:0878930051