Question

organism: pseudogymnoascus destructans

Evolutionaray adaptation: a. identify a unique adaptation this species exhibit. b. describe a selective pressure that may have favored this adaptation.

Answer 1

We are talking about an organism which is pseudogymnoascus destructans which commonly known as white-nose syndrome fungus.

If we see it from a taxonomic perspective then,

Species: INVASIVE Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Subphylum: Pezizomycotina Class: Dothideomycetes

Evolutionary adaptation :

a:

Invasive species are not a local species, it moves from one location to another and harms the environment, human economy, and human health. This species has the ability to adapt to new environments within a very short span of time and within a few more days it actually behaves like a native species of that location.

For example: If we consider a plant from invasive species named 'A'. A is introduced in a different place which is far from his previous place but after some weeks we saw some changes such as

i) A species will produce/grow more than the existing ones.

ii) The existing species will remain same with their producing ability / growing ability.

b:

Behind that advanced adaptability, there is definitely some cause or we can say some selective pressures :

i) Fast Growth

ii)The high rate of reproduction

iii) High dispersal ability

iv) Ability to alter growth form to suit the current location's environmental conditions

v) Ability to live off of a wide range of food types.

In the case of ' A' species here iv) Ability to alter growth form to suit the current location's environmental conditions helps A to remain alive in a new location.