Sara A. Kayla H. AP Biology Mrs.

Hafner April 4 2013

The Evolution of Flight in Birds

Flying is an evolved trait that began as early as the beginning of dinosaurs. Several features have evolved with flying so as to allow and aid the organism in flying. Features that are associated with flight, such as downy feathers, are adapted so as to solve the problems of flight, like the harsh temperatures of high altitudes. The essential features that are needed for flight, for instance the thin-walled state of the bones, directly affect if and how the organism flies because of issues such as weight distribution. The evolution of flight occurred through natural adaptations needed to survive in the environment, such as running, balance, and hunting. The adaptations did not occur specifically for flight, but were the next step needed to continue living sufficiently in that environment. The evolution of flight is shown through a series of adaptations in several cladograms that support this hypthesis. The first cladogram displays the evolution of the skeletal features associated and essential to flight and when the evolved. Evidence in these cladograms support the inference that these adaptations happened gradually and for better survival in the environment. The skeletal features cladogram shows that the skeletal aspects of flight happened over time as needed. For instance, the wishbone evolved before the enlarged sternum, even though they both are equally essential for flight, because it was needed before that for another reason. This is also true in the feathers features cladogram that demonstrate the evolution of feathers, which proves that flight feathers essential to flying did not evolve until flying was actually needed as a trait. The form and function cladogram shows how the trait of flying itself evolved, and that the last steps needed to go from gliding to actually flying occurred when the motion of flapping wings to fly was the next step in adapting. This is displayed in the sequence of adaptations where the longer arms needed for balance in flight evolved last so as to actually allow the organism to fly, Other evidence both disproves and supports this hypothesis. An article from Berkeley states that each trait evolved separately to solve a problem introduced in the environment. For example, they say that flying evolved from gliding, and that gliding was adapted because moving

from tree to tree in that manner was more efficient for the organism because it allowed for better balance and hunting. It is stated that this series of adaptations that evolved and consequently caused flight is an example of exaptation, and this supports the hypothesis that this was result of adaptations for balance, running, and hunting. An article from a scientific website states that flight evolved as part of the ground-up theory and that all of the adaptations were all working towards just hunting. It explains that flight evolved from a form of hopping and that flying allowed the hunting organism to come down in one peice after hunting. The theory shows that hunting was the trigger for the evolution flying and not the accumulated traits that evolved for running, balance. and hunting. This theory then disproves this hypothesis of flight originating in a series of natural adaptions needed to continue in that environment. The evolution of flight in birds occurred due to the need for a more sufficient way to survive in that environment for reasons like balance, hunting, and running. Direct evidence from various outsided sources, such as articles from colleges and scientific websites, both support and disprove this hypothesis. Cladograms that display the evolution of the features both essential to and associated with flight also support this hypothesis. Birds adapted the trait of flying through a series of evolved features that started with the earliest of feathery dinosaurs and now are the tastiest of flying animals.