Reproduction is incredibly important to the survival of a species. Without reproduction the species would die. This would effect to food chain and hurt other species and eventually hurt the world’s dynamic equilibrium.
There are two types of reproduction. Sexual reproduction requires to sets of sex cells, sperm and egg. Asexual reproduction occurs in bacteria and in some plants. This process only requires one parent and offspring are genetically identical to its parent.
Types of asexual reproduction
Budding- Budding is when an organism such as the hydra uses regenerative cells to produce offspring. Cell replication occurs in one specific site so that a new, genetically identical growth will protrude out of the original organism. this growth will separate off and become its own organism.
Vegetative Propagation- This occurs in plants such as strawberries. these plants grow 'runners or vines that can root and grow new plants.
Binary Fission- This is most commonly done by prokaryotes. the cell grows to twice its normal size and genetic material duplicates and the cell separates.
Fragmentation- This is when an organism breaks into multiple pieces and then each of those pieces grows into a complete organism
Sexual reproduction requires to sets of sex cells, sperm and egg. Each of these cells has 23 chromosomes, half of that of a normal skin cell which as 46 chromosomes. These sex cells combine to create one cell with 46 chromosomes, half from the mother and half from the father. This “zygote” develops and the cells reproduce and duplicate through mitosis. During this process chromatid in the cells duplicate and then the cell splits into two identical daughter cells. Meiosis starts the same but the two daughter cells duplicate again to create 4 sperm cells in males. However in females three of these cell leaving one egg cell containing 23 chromosomes.
During mating season snowy owls become vocal. Male produce a barking noise while females emit and high-pitched whistling sound. These calls are used to locate the one mate that the snowy owl will have for the rest the year in late winter. However if lots of food is available a female owl will might with two males. Every year the snowy owl will find and new mate. This is called monogamous. The courtship of a snowy owl is lengthy. Once a female Is located the male will first preform an aerial display by carrying a lemming in its beak or in his talons, and swooping in front of the female. The male will then land and turning his back to the female will lower his head to the ground. After rising he will turn around and present the female with the lemming, this presentation can also occur while flying. Upon arrival at the breeding ground in early spring the male will claim and defend its territory while the female builds a nest created by scraping out a hole in the ground in a high spot. Owls have a cloaca, which acts as an opining for intestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts. Birds, when mating, preform a cloacal kiss, and touch their cloacae together for a few seconds. [1] the female then begins laying eggs. One egg is laid every other day. The female incubates the eggs and after 33 days one hatches every day. The parents continue to feed the chicks[2] of 5 to 7 days until they are able to fly and hunt for them selves.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca
[2] http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Nyctea_scandiaca/