ADAPTATION OF MAMMALS TO THEIR HÁBITATS

Adaptation is the biological mechanism that allows a particular organism to adapt to changes in
their environment. This can drive evolutionary changes over time in which a species' genetics
shift so that they are better suited for an environment.

Adaptations are developed characteristics that make a creature more suited to its environment.

East Africa is well endowed with a variety of ecosystems that provide varied services, as well as
habitats for a wide range of species.

The EAC‘s role and mandates on biodiversity conservation are provided under Chapter 19 of the
Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community.

Four of the eight biodiversity hotspots in Africa are found in the EAC and are located at shared
trans-boundary sites where they are critical for regionally migratory species. These hotspots are:

 Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot (Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC);

 Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa biodiveristy hotspot (Kenya and Tanzania)

The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) for example lives in the Eastern Afromontane
biodiversity hotspot in Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. All four biodiversity hotspots are
biologically rich, yet threatened areas due to illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmentation,
overexploitation of plant and animal species, pollution, introduction of alien invasive species,
exploration and extraction of oil and gas, climate change and genetic erosion.

Burundi has 13 protected areas covering 100,000 ha of land. About 172,000 ha (or 6.7%) of
Burundi is forested. These ecosystems harbour an estimated 2,500 higher plant species, 145 bird
species, 107 mammal species, 79 reptile species, 18 amphibian species and 5 fish species.

The Kenyan coastline is characterised by a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including fish, coral
reefs and mangrove forests. The rangelands are composed of a number of habitat structures
ranging from open grasslands to closed woody and/or bushy vegetation with varying amounts
and composition of grass cover and species.

Rwanda’s location at the heart of the Albertine Rift eco-region in the western arm of Africa’s
Rift Valley makes it one of Africa’s most biologically diverse regions. It is home to some 40% of
the continent’s mammal species (402 species), a huge diversity of birds (1,061 species), reptiles
and amphibians (293 species), and higher plants (5,793 species).
Tanzania  has a diverse spectrum of fauna and flora, including a wide variety of endemic
species and sub-species. The biological diversity and degree of endemism consist of primates (20
species and 4 endemic), antelopes (34 species and 2 endemic), fish (with many endemic in Lake
Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa and other small lakes and rivers), reptiles (290 species and 75
endemic), amphibians (40 endemic), invertebrates and plants (around 11,000 species including
many endemic).

Uganda has a rich array of natural resources which include water and wetlands, biodiversity,
fisheries, forestry, land resources, wildlife, and minerals among others. The country has more
than 5,000 plant species along with 345 mammals, 1,015 birds, 165 reptiles and 43 amphibians.

The above information was got from the Eaxt African Community(EAC), research done on the
ecosystem.

To understand the different adaptations of mammals, one must go back to their origins.

It is very likely that the appearance of mammals on Earth occurred at the beginning of the
Mesozoic era. At this time there was a group of reptiles that had mammalian characteristics; they
were very frequent from the Permian to Triassic period and are known as the group of
Therapsids.

Over time, they gave rise to different evolutionary branches in which typical mammalian features
appeared at the same time that they intermingled with reptilians. This happened about 180
million years ago, in the late Triassic, at which time they declined, leaving a line of descendants
that would not re-emerge until after 100 million years, during which the great reptiles
predominated on Earth. The first fossils definitively corresponding to a mammal were found in
rocks of the Jurassic.

The more than 4,000 species of living mammals belong to the vertebrate class Mammalia. This
diverse group of animals has certain common features: all have four legs, bodies covered by hair,
a high and constant body temperature, a muscular diaphragm used in respiration, a lower jaw
consisting of a single bone, a left systemic aortic arch leaving the left ventricle of the heart, and
three bones in the middle ear. In addition, all female mammals have milk-producing glands.
There are three living subclasses of mammals: the Monotremata (egg-laying mammals), the
Marsupialia (pouched mammals), and the Placentalia (placental mammals).
Mammals range in size from bats, some of which weigh less than 1 oz (28.4 g), to the blue
whale, which weighs more than 200,000 lb (90,800 kg). Mammals are found in cold arctic
climates, in hot deserts, and in every terrain in between. Marine mammals, such as whales
and seals, spend most of their time in the ocean. While mammals are not as numerous and
diverse as, for example, birds or insects, mammals have a tremendous impact on the
environment, particularly due to the use of Earth's natural resources by one species of mammal:
humans.

Species of mammals have developed varying adaptations in response to the different

environments in which they live. Mammals in cold climates have insulating layers—a thick coat
of fur, or a thick layer of fat (blubber)—that help retain body heat and keep the animal's body
temperature constant. Some mammals that live in deserts survive by special adaptations in their
kidneys and sweat glands, as well as by their ability to avoid heat by behavioral means. Other
adaptations for survival in extreme climates include hibernation (a state of winter dormancy) or
estivation (summer dormancy). These responses make it possible for the animal to
conserve energy when food supplies become scarce.

The care of the young (parental care) is notable among mammals. Born at an average of 10% of
its mother's weight, mammalian young grow rapidly. The protection the young receive from one
or both parents during the early stages of their lives enables mammals to maintain a strong
survival rate in the animal kingdom.

The subclass Placentalia contains the majority of living mammals. The embryo of placentals
develops in the mother's uterus, is nourished by blood from the placenta, and is retained until it
reaches an advanced state of development. The Marsupialia are found in Australia and in North
and South America. Their young develop inside the uterus of the mother, usually with a
placenta connected to a yolk sac. Young marsupials are born in a very undeveloped state and
are sheltered in a pouch (the marsupium) which contains the nipples of the milk glands.
Kangaroos, wallabies, and most Australian mammals are marsupials, as is the opossum of the
New World. The Monotremata of Australia include the duck-billed platypus and two species
of spiny anteaters. Monotremes lay eggs, but have hair and secrete milk like other mammals. 
Features that allow mammals to successfully inhabit all habitats.

Mammals have evolved to exploit a wide variety of ecological niches, developing numerous
adaptations. This has resulted in a multitude of anatomical, physiological, and behavioral
differences that allow them to adapt efficiently to diverse functions and lifestyles.
The great adaptability of the individuals that make up the mammalian class has led them to
inhabit all the ecosystems of the planet, thus becoming one of the dominant groups on Earth.
In many cases, species that are geographically and phylogenetically very distant from each other
have adopted similar morphological structures, physiological functions, and behavioral skills.
This phenomenon is known as convergent evolution.
Adaptations:

1. Lung breathing.
In many cases, with the adaptation to the terrestrial environment, the mammals abandoned the
cutaneous respiration of the amphibians and perfected the pulmonary respiration of the reptiles,
generating an efficient respiratory system adapted to the requirements of this type of habitat.
This respiratory apparatus presents alveolar structures that allow the blood to be oxygenated very
well, which has allowed them to be homeotherms. In addition, in the case of aquatic mammals, it
allows them to remain submerged for long periods of time since the oxygenation surface of the
blood (hematosis) is greater than that of other animals.

2. Viviparous reproduction.
As a consequence of leaving the water, mammals have internal fertilization, so that zygotes
implant and develop in the uterus. The placenta provides food and oxygen to the embryo, also
making it possible to excrete waste substances. For its part, amnion contains amniotic fluid,
protecting the fetus from external shocks, among other functions.
These adaptations allow the young to develop inside the female, thus protecting them from the
external environment. In addition, the fact that the females provide food to the young (milk),
allowed greater freedom of movement and with it a greater survival capacity.

3. Fur.
Living on land implies being more subject to thermal variations so that mammals developed fur
to protect themselves from inclement weather as well as to help maintain the internal
temperature, thus being able to withstand both cold and heat.
In many mammals, in addition to hair, a dense layer of fatty tissue appears under the skin,
providing additional thermal protection.

4. Homeothermic capacity:
Mammals have different mechanisms to maintain their temperature within certain limits
regardless of the outside temperature. To do this they consume a large amount of energy by
increasing the metabolic rate to produce heat (hence the importance of the respiratory system)
and lower the metabolic rate when the environment is warm.
Thanks to the self-sufficiency of heat, some homeotherms can survive in very adverse cold
conditions and when the ambient temperature is high, the thermoregulation mechanism of the
homeotherms goes down to save energy.
In addition there are other adaptations related to extreme environments such as special sweat
glands, more effective kidney structures, hibernation and estivation (also related to food
availability)

5. Vision.
Many mammals have a vision suitable for low light levels, which is important when developing
night activities as well as conquering new ecological niches.
In addition to vision, other sensory organs such as hearing and smell develop that allow them to
adapt better to these habitats.

6. Adaptations of the skeleton.

The skull loses mass, maintains resistance and simplifies structures while allowing muscle
development and effectiveness.
A secondary palate is formed, the middle ear is modified, and tooth specialization occurs. The
mandible is made up of a single bone (the dental).
The extremities stop articulating on both sides of the trunk to do so below, increasing mobility.

7. Physiological improvement.
The conquest of new habitats or ecological niches required an increase in the physiological
efficiency of mammals, so that the nervous system, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive
systems were perfected, so that in addition to adapting to the environment, they also made better
use of the resources.

Examples of mammals’ adaptations

Throughout the ages, mammals have developed numerous adaptations that have allowed them

to evolve successfully in certain environments or environments. The adaptations of
mammals are related to their morphology, which is habituated to the environment of their area
of??Origin. One of the most important adaptations is the one related to its locomotion, this is
how we have mammals:

Plantigrades: they are slow-moving mammals, for this reason they rest on the ground with the
entire sole of their foot, as is the case with bears.

– Digitigrades: its march is fast thanks to the exclusive support of the fingers on the terrestrial
area in which they transit, this locomotion is characteristic of cats and dogs.

– Ungulígrados: as in the previous case they support themselves with their fingers, but in these
animals walking is more extreme, since they do it only with the tips of their fingers, so they
acquire greater speed, for example, deer, deer, horses, etc. In all, the hoof that protects their
phalanges stands out; Depending on the number of hooves, they are classified into artiodactyls
(they have an even number) and perissodactyls (they have an odd number of hooves).

Mammals with adaptations to jumping: The most prominent are the lagomorphs, their long
hind limbs enable them to run and make great jumps.

– Flying: animals capable of flight, their adaptations are different from that of the birds
themselves.

Aquatic: mammals trained to live in aquatic environments, both in fresh and salt water.

Flying mammals
Bats they are the only mammals with the ability to fly. Apart from their wing-modified hands,
they have developed other adaptations, for example, a very sophisticated ear, or the fact of
presenting, micro-helicopters, an improved ultrasound detection system.

Thanks to the lengthening of the forearm and also of his fingers, with the exception of the thumb,
in addition to the presence of patagio, they have been able to adapt with powers for sustained
flight.

Aquatic mammal adaptations

The adaptability of mammals that live inside the waters is amazing, as is the case of whales
porpoises, manatee , dugong and dolphins. Its fish-shaped shapes and forelimbs turned into
fins represent an extraordinary evolutionary conversion.

Also important are the sirenios with forelimbs converted oars, unlike cetaceans, joints present in
the fins are mobile, also surprised developing snout and adapted for rooting in the marine
environment.

Semi-aquatic mammals

Seals, sea lions, walrus, hippopotamus, platypus, otters, beavers and nutria, unlike the
previous ones, can stay a long time on dry land, especially when the breeding season arrives.
Their hydrodynamic bodies and fin-shaped forelimbs represent morphological adaptations to
aquatic life, in addition to being able to move on dry land thanks to the preservation of their
hindlimbs.

There are other mammals with aquatic customs, such as the otter or the extraordinary platypus,
have developed interdigital membranes to swim nimbly in the water.

Arboreal mammals

They are animals that inhabit wooded areas with abundant vegetation; In order to move between
trees and undergrowth, they have developed special adaptations: long tails, prehensile tails as a
fifth hand, some opposable fingers to hold on to the branches. The number of these mammals is
very large, some are well known, for example, the sloth , the koala , the primates or the
curious gliders, the latter have developed a membrane between the body and legs that enables it
to glide, jumping comfortably between tree and tree , as is the case with the gliders.

Plains mammals

Many mammals live in grassland habitats, among their adaptations the body adapted to the race,
very sophisticated among predatory animals, the long legs of ungulates, or those that live in
community and in which a great development of the sensory organs prevails as a means of
communication, not forgetting those who live in burrows, many with good qualities for digging
galleries. The number of species is large by way of example, some species of small rodents,
prairie dogs, even lions stand out.

Mammals of arctic zones

Adapted to survive in environments where low temperatures or extreme cold prevail, these
animals have undergone special adaptations such as the musky ox and its bushy coat; coat
changes consistent with weather stations, for example polar bears , arctic fox , variable hare ;
the mane of the Arctic caribou , its own horns also present in female specimens or its ultraviolet
vision, very useful to see better among the white snow. 

Desert mammals

It is surprising that there are animals that live in areas of extreme heat. Normally during the day
they remain sheltered between weeds and burrows, their rather nocturnal habits helps them avoid
high temperatures during daytime. Their bodies also undergo adaptations, mainly so that they
can remain hydrated in the face of the low humidity in desert areas, a characteristic example is
the camel and its powers to remain without drinking or eating for many days, thanks to the
storage of fat in its hump, they rarely sweat, so they retain good powers to retain fluid for a long
time.