Adaptation and Natural Selection

Here are some useful resources for the teaching of Adaptation and Natural Selection

The following resouces are available from the pbs website

Evolution of  Camouflage  This website provides a number of examples of how animals have survived by evolving survival mechanisms such as  mimicry, camouflage, and disguise.

How the woodpecker avoids a headache .  What specialised mechanisms are required in order for a woodpecker to reach and eat insects buried in trees?

Mimicry  Survival often requires the mechanism to mimic the looks and sounds of other living things. This can be used successfully in reproduction, hiding from predators, and ensuring that prey don't recognise the predator.

The Frustration Principle  Survival often depends o­n a number of desirable traits. This resource looks at the work of Karl Niklas o­n the evolution of trees.

(Updated and checked in December 2023)