Final answer:
Seasonal polyphenism is exemplified by the peppered moth, which developed different color forms as an adaptation to changes in the environment during the Industrial Revolution. Another example is the seasonal migration of animals, which is triggered by environmental cues such as day length. Photoperiodism in plants also reflects seasonal polyphenism, where flowering is influenced by the length of daylight and other factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seasonal polyphenism refers to the phenomenon where organisms exhibit different phenotypes in response to seasonal changes in their environment. A well-known example of seasonal polyphenism is seen in the peppered moth (Biston betularia). The peppered moth displays two different color forms, light and dark (melanic), which were subject to natural selection during the Industrial Revolution in England. Before widespread pollution, the light-colored moths were more common as they blended in with their environment. However, as soot from factories covered trees, the once rare dark-colored moths became more prevalent, as they blended in better with the darkened trees and were less likely to be predated upon.
This evolutionary change is an example of how species can alter their phenology, with the timing of their phenotypic expression, such as coloration, being influenced by environmental cues. Similarly, seasonal migration in birds and insects is another example of a behavior with a yearly cycle, controlled by environmental changes such as the length of daylight hours. In plants, photoperiodism influences flowering and growth patterns, with some plants like beets requiring a period of cold to trigger the flowering process in their second growing season.
Overall, these examples demonstrate the close relationship between an organism's phenology and its environment, often resulting in selective pressures that drive evolutionary changes and adaptations.