May 29, 2012

Natural Selection in Red Pandas

Before

After

My model shows is an example of natural selection in red pandas. Red pandas hunt during the night as nocturnal carnivores. In the before picture, the panda has smaller ears and eyes. As a result of natural selection, the more adapted panda has bigger eyes and ears. This way, they are more successful at hunting at night. The big eyes make it easier to see their living prey. The larger ears will make it easier to hear during the night time and not get eaten. Natural selection is the biological process of survival of the fittest. Those who are most well adapted to the environment will survive to reproduce and pass down the wanted traits. According to Darwin, natural selection needs four things: variation, inheritance, high rate of population growth, and  Differential survival and reproduction. Natural selection is one of the basic mechanisms of evolution.

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