Importance of Trifling Morphological Characters
Animals do not just have colors for beautification. Various animals have colors and tints that help them to survive in the harsh conditions of the jungle. Predators are always looking for food to eat. In this regard, animals usually have colors and tint that are similar to the surrounding environment in which they live. This is highly helpful to the animals in two ways.
Firstly, prey animals are able to use these colors and tint to disguise themselves and thus avoid being seen by predators from long distances. This is a survival mechanism to ensure that at least these animals live to maturity. Secondly, the colors and tint can work in favor of predators. When predators have colors and tint which is almost the same as that of their ecological niche, they can be able to trap their prey making hunting easier. In this regard, the colors and tint act as a hunting aid thus ensuring survival of the predators.
What Natural Selection Modification cannot Do
Natural selection will modify the structure of any animal so that the animal can survive. However, natural selection cannot modify the structure of an animal to its disadvantage. Structural modification of animals is always in favor of the animals. Therefore, if an animal is to undergo modification of its structure that may lead to disadvantages in a given section, the modification will be slow. At the same time, the section will be undergoing modification so that it is to the advantage of the animal.
Natural selection will always ensure that the best species survives while the unfit perishes. In this regard, when natural conditions of an area change, natural selection will not modify the structure of an animal so that it cannot survive. On the contrary, natural selection will always be modifying the structure of any animal so that it is fit to survive on the prevailing natural conditions. In a nutshell, structural modification by natural selection is always aimed at ensuring that animals survive.
Difference between Species and Varieties
One basic difference between species and varieties is that while species are animals or plants which belong to the same genus, varieties are organisms belonging to the same species but with slight differences. Different species though belonging to the same genus, usually exhibit high degree differences which range from physical to morphological. Organisms of different species may not even live in the same ecological niche.
On the other hand, organisms of different varieties usually belong to the same species but exhibit minor differences. It is important to note that differences of varieties are mostly physical.
Organisms of different varieties may even be occupying the same ecological niche contrary to organisms of different species. In this regard, it is important to note that the differences among members of different varieties are of lesser degrees compared to those among members of different species. In more instances, varieties come about as a result of sexual selection.
Traits Perpetuated through Sexual Selection
Basic differences among animals of the same species are usually as a result of sexual selection. This includes color, shape of the mouth and other physical characters. As far as sexual selection is concerned, the characters of the dominant males are always the prevalent ones. It is important to note that sexual selection is not responsible for survival qualities of an organism.
Nonetheless, sexual traits from a dominant male always prevail among the group. The trait of domineering and fighting other male members so as to remain a dominant male are as a result of sexual selection. The offspring of a dominant male will always be good at fighting and endowed with the best fighting mechanism. On the other hand, offspring of weak male will always be in jeopardy because they do not have the requirements to protect themselves and their female partners.
Natural Selection Compared to Sexual Selection
Natural selection is about survival and every animal or plant that is not best suited will perish. Natural selection separates organisms with the best characters from animals with the bad characters. The results are clear to every organism; if it is not best suited it will die. On the other hand, sexual selection is about which male is strong enough to dominate and have offspring.
The male can fight but it is not necessarily that death can result. A defeated male can move from that part and relocate to another ecological niche where it can continue surviving. The characters that are gained through sexual selection are important to ensure continuity of the dominant male’s lineage.
However, characters gained through natural selection are vital to ensure survival of the animal. Natural selection can modify an animal to ensure that it is fit to survive. However, no such modification occurs as a result of sexual selection. In this regard, natural selection is about life and death as opposed to sexual selection. A reason as to why Darwin says that sexual selection is less rigorous than natural selection.