Taking it easy in the heat
Tropical climes have such a variety of brightly colored flora and fauna that for a long time scientists figured that evolution and speciation were in overdrive there. But now comes an article in today's issue of the journal "Science" that says that may not be true.
It turns out that speciation happens more often in the moderate zones. Seems like down along the equator, biology puts its feet up on the veranda railing, sips fancy drinks with umbrellas in them and generally takes it easy rather getting down to the hard work of actually randomly mutating into separate species. Apparently it's a regular Tennesee Williams' play down there in Margaritaville.
One of the researchers quoted in the AP story, Jason T. Weir of the zoology department at the University of British Columbia, said, "It would take one species in the tropics 3 to 4 million years to evolve into two distinct species, whereas at 60 degrees latitude (two-thirds of the way toward either pole), it could take as little as 1 million years.''
Lollygaggers, if you ask me.
So up here in the northern hemisphere, we're churning out species at a pretty rapid clip. The reason the tropics still have greater species diversity is that it's cold and nasty around these parts. Our species die out more quickly. Even goofy species can find their niche in the equator.
In places like, oh, I don't know, New Jersey, you got to be hairy and have a real attitude to make it. Find the AP article at http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-03-15-species-diversity_N.htm
It turns out that speciation happens more often in the moderate zones. Seems like down along the equator, biology puts its feet up on the veranda railing, sips fancy drinks with umbrellas in them and generally takes it easy rather getting down to the hard work of actually randomly mutating into separate species. Apparently it's a regular Tennesee Williams' play down there in Margaritaville.
One of the researchers quoted in the AP story, Jason T. Weir of the zoology department at the University of British Columbia, said, "It would take one species in the tropics 3 to 4 million years to evolve into two distinct species, whereas at 60 degrees latitude (two-thirds of the way toward either pole), it could take as little as 1 million years.''
Lollygaggers, if you ask me.
So up here in the northern hemisphere, we're churning out species at a pretty rapid clip. The reason the tropics still have greater species diversity is that it's cold and nasty around these parts. Our species die out more quickly. Even goofy species can find their niche in the equator.
In places like, oh, I don't know, New Jersey, you got to be hairy and have a real attitude to make it. Find the AP article at http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-03-15-species-diversity_N.htm
posted by Michael Riley at 11:38 AM
3 Comments:
Yeah, I've spotted many of the aforementioned species in the NY/NJ wild and for some reason many had wifebeater tees and gold horn chains..go figure..
they're prob still hibernating in their caves..spring arrives tomorrow, fear not, Ray, the fundies will be crawling out soon...
The three of you, Riley, dg, and ray, have cracked me up and made my day. Thank you.
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