Taxonomy and Evolution of the Bald Eagle

Importance to Humans &

Chance of Survival

So as I mentioned before, the bald eagle is an iconic bird to North America and especially to the United States. (As it is their National Bird) Not to mention that the first peoples of north america and their beliefs heavily include this amazing eagle.

Evolutionary Rate

There are two rates at which creatures evolve. These can be shown with a punctuated equilibrium and a gradual change model

The bald eagle has been close to extinction once already this past century. However it came back, thanks to the efforts of people to change our ways and let the species live. The bald eagle is once again safe and no longer endangered. As long as we keep the well being of all life on earth in mind, I believe the bald eagle will live for years and years to come.

Punctuated Change =

Large changes only when it is completely necessary for survival.

Gradual Change = Small changes very frequently. Gradually evolving further from their ancestor

Because of my organisms long lifespan, i would think it gradually change over a long period of time. However has been basically the same for hundreds of years.

Bald Eagle, Divergent Evolution

Bald Eagle Co-evolution

The golden eagle and bald eagle have adapted to different environments. The golden eagle lives in a desert or steppe climate while the bald eagle lives mainly near rivers, swamps and coastlines. However have very similar traits and body type.

Convergent, Divergent and co-evolution

The bald eagle and the rabbit is an example of co-evolution. The eagle has evolved physical and strategic attributes allowing it to kill rabbits (as well as other animals) and therefore, the rabbit has evolved its own set of physical and strategic attributes to avoid being killed. This forces them into a close natural relationship without which neither species would benefit. Take the rabbit out and the eagle has fewer food resources. Without the eagle, rabbits will overpopulate and endanger their own food supply.

Convergent evolution = the process where organisms not closely related, evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or niches.

Classifying the

Bald Eagle

Divergent evolution = When differences between groups of a species start to evolve. This can lead to the formation of new species

Kingdom

• The Bald Eagle falls under the Animalia Kingdom

Eukaryotic or Prokaryotic?

The Bald Eagle is an Eukaryotic Organism.

This is because all of it's cells have a nucleus as they are animal cells. Prokaryotic cells have no definitive nucleus

Co-evolution = When two different species evolve to interact with another specific species in a chain of adaptations.

Scientific Classifiction

• Animalia
• Chardata
• Aves
• Falconiformes
• Accipitridae
• Haliaeetus
• Leucocephalus

Speciation

Early Ancestor

One of the Bald Eagles earliest ancestors is considered to be "Archaeopteryx Lithographica" This bird-like creature is considered to be the first ever bird.

The Bald Eagle in it's Ecosystem

A formation of a new species in the process of evolution.

Phylogenetic Tree

Geographic and

Reproductive Isolation

The bald eagle plays a vital role in it's mostly seaside and aquatic ecosystem. The Eagle is most of the quaternary part of it's food chain. Although not only is it a good predator, the flyer can also, and often scavenges for food.

Geographic isolation can sometimes lead to reproductive isolation. If a population is split up and put through different environmental challenges. It can lead to changes so strong to make it impossible to breed with the other population at all.

The bird helps keep the population of fish and rabbits in check. If it weren't around, their numbers would skyrocket.

Reproductive isolation is when a population can't or won't mate with another population of the same or similar species.

Geographic isolation is when two populations of the same species is blocked from each other by some object, ocean or land mass.

Longevity and

FUN FACTS!

Because the bald eagle is a flyer, geographic isolation is nearly impossible. However reproductive isolation could be a large possibility. Considering all the other types of eagles.

Food Chain

The Bald Eagle Generally lives

~20 years in the wild and

~30 years in captivity

Animals generally live longer in captivity because there is always a supply of food, and the dangers of living in the wild cease to exist.

5 SUPER COOL FACTS

• The Bald Eagle is the National Bird of the U.S.A
• They Build one of the largest nests on average over any other modern day bird
• Almost 70% of Bald Eagle deaths are caused by humans.
• They can reach up to 100 Mph (161Kmh) in a dive
• From 1952 to 2006 the number of nesting paired Bald Eagles jumped from 412 to 9,789! Bringing off the endangered list.

Homologous and

Analogous Structures

Analogous = Convergent evolution creates structures that have similar form or function, but that were not present in the last common ancestor of those groups

Homologous = when very different animals have bones that appear very similar in form or function and seem to be related.

Bald Eagle Adaptations

If you look at the bald eagle's wing closely, you will find it has a radius and an ulna, Just as humans do.

Geographical Location

For example, the bald eagles wing has the same function (more or less) as a butterfly's wing. However they are very different organisms.

• The Bald Eagle's Location is 100% in North America
• The Eagle migrates to Northern locations throughout the year for breeding.
• There are some spots in NA where the eagle is a permanent resident.

The Bald Eagle has a few special adaptations that separates it from other birds. For one it can see four to eight times better and further than humans. The second adaptation is a bony overhang above their eyes. This overhang protects the eyes from the sun and helps while flying and searching for food by shading the bird's eyes from any glare. enabling it to see into the water easily. The last adaptations are the little bumps on the bottom of their feet called spicules. They, along with

razor sharp claws help to

hold prey in flight.

Physiological, Structural and Behavioral Adaptations

Physiological: A smaller physical adaptation that an organism displays, however doesn't pass down to it's descendants. IE: getting a tan after being out in the sun.

Structural: a permanent adaptation to the organisms structure to better it for survival. IE a birds shape of beak.

Topics Covered

Behavioral: an adaptation of one's life choices that turns into routine. For example, Bird Migration is a behavioral adaptation.

-Geographical Habitat and Breeding Location

-Food Chain

-Longevity and Sexual Maturity

-5 BONUS INCREDIBLY COOL FACTS

-Structure

-Different types of evolution

-Homologous/analogous?

-Evolution/Rate

-Geographic/Reproductive Isolation

-Importatnce to humans and survival

Taxonomy and Evolution of the

Bald Eagle

References and Citations

http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org

http://www.animalfactguide.com

https://nationalzoo.si.edu

http://www.pbs.org

https://en.wikipedia.org

https://seaworld.org

And of course Google Images!

https://images.google.ca/

And all other sources which photos

may have came from!

By Jarrid P.