Adaptation Of Early Haikouichthys

Over the course of history, living organisms have shifted tremendously over time. However, it makes you wonder how they did it. History today, proves that it wasn’t the organisms themselves that inspired the change, but a series of multiple mass extinctions over time. Because of the extinctions, adaptations appeared, more need to evolve became apparent, and made it easier to evolve via the climate and environment. The first thing extinctions influenced was adaptations. As stated in the documentary series: Walking with monsters, without specific animals, the environment changes. As the environments change, usually animals do as well. A specific example of this would be the adaptation of early Haikouichthys. Haikouichthys adapted many things
because of the change in his environment such as a tail, fins, stronger scales, memory, and a distinct head. Another area in which extinctions inspired evolution is the smaller amount of population it provides. In many and almost all extinctions, it became apparent that the disappearance of certain species and plants as outcomes of extinction produced new chances for remaining species to flourish. After a mass extinction, the playing field levels for a small time and smaller species have the chance to become more prevalent and robust. In Walking with monsters, a small reptile portrays that idea exactly. In the End Permian mass extinction, Diictodon, a smaller mammal-like reptile, had the chance to evolve into a large widespread mammal-like species called the Lystrosaurus. It got the chance to evolve like that because other predators like the carnivorous gorgonopsid and amphibious labyrinthodont couldn’t survive in the harsh desert climate and terrain. Another key part to evolution extinction brings to the table is the fact that the harder it is to survive the easier it is to adapt. Living things need a variety of things to survive such as the ability to sense and respond to change. Extinctions make things harder for all animals making it easier for their bodies to naturally flex to meet the needs of the animal through time meaning that since things are harder to survive through it creates an immediate demand for an evolutionary adaption. Extinction manages to trigger evolution no matter what you do. Although it may not be the driving force of adaptation, it is one of the key ingredients! The proof is evident with studies showing that adaptations are shown to become more apparent directly after a mass extinction, fewer populations and harsh environments create perfectly timed opportunities to shift food chains and produce chances to advance societies.