BIO 101 Week 4 Structure and Functions of Organs (100% Guaranteed Pass)

Structure and Function of Organs BIO 101 Structure and Function of Organs The environment that the eastern coyote lives in, as well as the ir diet; both play a major role in their ability to adapt and survive. How would things change if the coyote were moved to a different environment? Would a change to their habitat effect their ability to thrive and would there be physiological changes over time to help them better adapt? The Eastern Coyote [Image 1]. “The coyote has been present in New York state at least since 1920.” (Chambers, 2006, para.). According to "Predator Defense" (n.d.), “Coyotes play a critical role in keeping natural areas healthy. In fact, coyotes are a keystone species, meaning that their presence or absence has a significant impact on the surrounding biological community.” Coyotes play an important role in the food chain. “Predator Defense” (n.d.) states that, “By exerting a top-down regulation of other species, coyotes maintain the balance in the food web below and around them. When coyotes are absent or even just greatly reduced in a natural area, the relationships between species below them in the web are altered, putting many small species at risk.”. Figure 1 below shows information relating to the classification of the eastern coyote. The phylogenetic tree provided in figure 2 shows that the eastern coyote is most closely related to jackals, wolves and domestic dogs. Schmitz (2009) says that, “DNA analysis has determined that wolves, Canis lupus, descended from coyotes, which have a more primitive anatomy. Fossil records also show that coyotes predate wolves by several thousand years. The oldest coyote remains have been found in New Mexico, while wolves appear to have went north over time. The closest relative of the coyote is the red wolf, Canis rufus, which is severely endangered. This species fell victim to predator control programs and was unable to cope as well as the coyote. The small number that exist in the wild currently are the result of intensive programs of reestablishment.”. Because the eastern coyote is so closely related to wolves, the anatomy of the coyote tends to be very similar. Just like any other mammal, the coyote has lungs for breathing, a heart for circulating blood through out the body, a digestive tract for digesting food and providing energy to the body, and reproductive organs. ("The Coyote Resource", n.d.). Depending upon how well fed the coyote is, they can expect to have any where from 4 to 6 babies in a litter ("Department of Environmental Conservation", n.d.). The Environment According to "Department of Environmental Conservation" (n.d.), the eastern coyote survives on a diet consisting of “white-tailed deer, rabbits, small mammals such as mice and voles, raccoons, groundhogs, birds, insects and plant materials.” As with most mammals, the diet of the coyote (although pretty consistent) shifts with the seasons and the availability of food. During the summer, coyotes will eat mostly berries and insects. The fall brings small mammals into the mix; and during the winter the coyote will move on to a larger pray of white tailed deer ("Department of Environmental Conservation", n.d.). According to "Urban Coyote Research" (2016), “Some people believe that urban coyotes primarily eat garbage and pets. Although coyotes are predators, they are also opportunistic feeders and shift their diets to take advantage of the most available prey. Coyotes are generally scavengers and predators of small prey but can shift to large prey occasionally. Researcher Paul Morey analyzed scat (fecal matter) contents at different locations within our study area. After investigating 1,429 scats, he found that diet items varied across space and time, which reflects the flexible food habits of coyotes.” Coyotes have proven to be able to easily adjust to any habitat, thought they do have their preferences. Coyotes prefer to live in open areas although when faced with areas of urbanization, coyotes can be found in wooded areas which provides them shelter from people ("Urban Coyote Research", 2016). Adaption to a new environment. Coyotes have proven to be highly versatile in both their environment and their food sources. If coyotes were forced to change their habitat, there is no doubt that they would evolve and strive. Based on history of coyotes it can be noted that if an environmental change were to take place, the physical anatomy of coyotes would stay pretty much the same. Slight changes that could be observed would be the color of their coat and their general size. Today The eastern coyote stands at about 15 to 20 inches tall and is any where from 4 to 5 feet long including the length of their tail. Its coat varies in color from blond to red to black. ("Watchable Wild Life", n.d.). If the habitat of the eastern coyote changed, we might see variations on size and color as the species evolves to adjust to their new environment. The reason for these changes could be for better camouflage from predators and to increase speed and have a better navigational ability. In conclusion coyotes can be seen as highly versatile and adaptable organisms. From their habitats to their diets, coyotes have shown over the years that they have the ability to survive. Adding balance to the food chain, the presence of coyotes is an integral one. In their absence, the lives of other organisms would likely change drastically. The physiological changes required by coyotes and their ability to adapt is slight leaving them capable of surviving in most conditions. References Shafer, Susan. (Photographer). (n.d.). Eastern Coyote- Canis Latrans [digital image]. Retrieved from