This paper explains that, through the physical
characteristics and the behavior of a creature, it is possible to determine
a great deal about how that creature interacts with its habitat and learn about the evolutionary processes that have brought this plant or animal to its current form. The author points out that wolves adjust well to fluctuations in prey populations by supplementing the meat and fish with various forms of vegetation; some wolves have even been known to live on a largely vegetarian diet for extended periods. The paper explains that the Prickly Pear, one of the most common of the cactus family that natively grow in the Eastern parts of the United States, are remarkably resistant to both the cold and to the heat. Table of Contents Introduction The Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)