Supported by SFI Discover Programme
I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here! Ireland
Ask Talking to the Scientists Vote Log in
Log in using the username and password we sent you!
Return visit? Just log in
Meet the scientists!
Zone Home
Question: What do you think will be the next step in evolution for birds?
Asked by Blathin to Sean on 15 Nov 2014.
Sean Kelly answered on 15 Nov 2014:
That's a brilliant question! Of course, it's also a very difficult one! I think the biggest driver of evolution in the future for bird will be climate change. The environment has a major effect on the evolution of life. And one of the biggest changes to the environment in the future will be climate change. Climate change will make some areas drier, some wetter, some hotter and some colder. That means the birds in these regions will need to adapt to these changes or try to live somewhere else. For example, birds who live in regions that become colder may need to become larger to survive in the cold. Similarly, where it gets hotter, birds might become smaller to avoid heating up so easily and losing energy. Changes in climate may also cause animals to be able to live in new environments. For example, the weather in Europe and around Ireland has been getting slightly warmer and we think this has allowed species such as the Little Egret to now survive in Ireland (as it would have been too cold for them before). Furthermore, climate change will change the birds food resources. If the weather changes and you can no long find food in a region you will have to look elsewhere. Some species will be able to adapt and find new food resources and they will survive. Sadly, however, others will go extinct as the rate of change is simply too fast for them to be able to adapt.
These are all small and current changes but they will drive the evolution of birds as they will be forced to adapt to new environments and new food resources. Predicted the evolution of birds way into the future is very difficult. It's fun to think about. Will they become better at using tools? Will some species become flightless? What will become the largest and smallest species and what will they feed on?
I hope that answers your question
Blathin commented on 21 Nov 2014 :
Brilliant thank you!!!
@Sean what is the biggest bird you have encountered?
when diffrent birds eat diffrent food do they get bigger in size and could they get fatter or tinner
If you could breed two animals or birds to make a new animal, what would they be?
do eat turkey on christmas day
Why does the blood become red by touching the air? Is that something to do with metal?
will the universe ever stop expanding and/or shrink?
@sean.If you could understand three things about evolution what would they be
what is your opinon on ebola? do you think it will wipe out the world?♥
Do tomatoes grow in space?
View all answered questions
If we had the technology to go deeper into the ocean, do you think you'd find many fossils there? If so, what do you	(1 comment)
What do you think will be the next step in evolution for birds?	(1 comment)
I've always been intrigued as to how animals simply know what they have to do in life to survive? I know they're taught	(1 comment)
Sharks are my favorite animal, do you know how many sharks there are in world?	(2 comments)
Have you ever seen a shark in ocean?	(1 comment)
Copyright Gallomanor, produced by Mangorolla CIC 2022