What is it?
Functionality drives adaptation. As organisms adjust to new conditions, opportunities or threats, the form that the adjustment or adaptation may take is determined by its function. For example, species living in geographic areas prone to drought may be exceptionally threatened due to a changing climate. Some fish in this situation, have developed a limited ability to move short distances over land to more stable water. However, the downside for these travellers may be a high predation rate when an overland migration is located by terrestrial and avian predators. In response to this need for protection, it may become advantageous for the migrating species to travel at night (change behavior) or develop camouflage on parts of the body exposed to predators. The form of this camouflage (design and coloration) would blend perfectly with the background, meeting the fish’s need for protective cover during its short, overland journey.
How can anglers use it?
The biggest lesson to be drawn from adaptive insights into nature is that everything from physical attributes of a given species to physiological processes, behavioral characteristics, and appearance, all exist in the forms we observe for a reason. Most of the research in natural sciences is aimed at understanding these reasons. Scientists observe natural processes and behavior to identify relationships, repeated patterns and ultimately, causal explanations about why things happen, or exist in the manner or form that they do. This is the thinking process and method of a progressive angler.
Knowledge is the key to fishing wisdom. Knowing that fish are not scattered at random across a waterway, but inhabit specific locations that meet their particular needs, with accompanying behaviors that serves the essential functions in a fish’s life, provides insights into the reasons fish make the choices they do. This basic understanding of the functionality of fish life-processes and behavior is the foundation for good fishing decisions.
For example, choosing lures is a common ritual for anglers. In purchasing, we examine the color, size, and form of the lure. On the first outing, we may select the lure and run it alongside the boat to see how it moves in the water. We often think or say, “if I was a fish, I would bite that.” While observing a smoothly functioning lure at boat-side is good to verify the performance of an untested product, it is essential to also look at lures from a functional perspective. This means determining what species will be targeted with the lure and the environmental circumstances prevalent in fish-holding locations at a given time of the year. Biology and environmental conditions are consulted to help identify the principal factors influencing fish behavior and location, like water depth and clarity among others. Once the basic performance requirements for a given lure in a certain location are established, the functionality of lure design and other features, including the depth at which it will need to perform, are all considered in the final decision. Exactly like choosing a tool with all the correct functional attributes to suit a specific job.
adaptiveangler.com 