Selective Pressures in the Desert

An observation I was very excited to make was the difference in coloration of a particular genus of grasshoppers in Organ Pipe National Monument Park. I was wandering around on the search for different arthropod species when I noticed something nearly invisible hop along the ground. I found it was a grasshopper with a white marbled coloration. With time I spotted another, then another, then many more throughout my hike. I was able to identify them as in the genus Cibolacris. When I looked at all these different grasshoppers, I realized their coloration varied slightly between them according to where they were. The one I initially found was a white marble color to match the light granite rocks among which I found it. The second one I found had a similar pattern but more colors to it, blending in with the sandier ditches with plant debris and pink rocks. A third one near the end of my hike had a completely different pattern, looking like someone had sprinkled pepper on it. This one blended in with the dark gravel background of the path paved for the trail. Three different colored grasshoppers in three different environments, just within yards of each other. It immediately reminded me of classic textbook examples of natural selection, but this time it was right here in front of my face and in my hand. It was a pretty simple observation, but a good testimony to the selective pressures of the desert and the continuous, even seemingly minute, changes that allowed these native species to thrive.

Publicado el marzo 11, 2022 04:03 MAÑANA por amihalik