Behavior May Influence Evolution

eldavojohn writes "Pending your beliefs about evolution, National Geographic is running an interesting article on the influences of behavior on evolution. The study supports the controversial idea that an animal's behavior in response to environmental change can spur evolutionary adaptations. By adding a predator to an island where a species of lizards lived with no predators, they witnessed a quick shift in the average length of legs on the lizards. Long legs meant to escape were useless against the new larger predators while short legs became the dominant feature since they increased climbing ability (to trees the predators could not reach). For the finer details on the research, visit the Losos Lab Research Page."

Comments

Will we adapt?

[MECC]

The study also supports a somewhat controversial idea in biology: Animals' behavior in response to environmental change can spur evolutionary adaptations.

Could that imply that the behaviour of disbelieving scientific facts could spur a reduction in brain size in order to adapt to reduced intelligence?

And in other news...

[Daniel_Staal]

When the environment changes, some animals are better adapted to the new change than others. Details at 11.

Pending your beliefs about evolution...

[laejoh]

... short legs became the dominant feature since they increased climbing ability ...

Ok, here it goes:

It certainly explains the midget 'cause short legs help him/her climb up the mountain and trees to be closer to FSM!

Evolution?

[lbmouse]

I'm in no shape or form a scientist, but is this really an example of evolution? The long legs vs. short legs reminds of the the hiking boots vs. running shoes joke. I think this is a better example of the I-don't-have-to-outrun-the-bear-just-you school of thought.

Re:Why is this controversial?

[Hognoxious]

this is still an unnatural occurrence, and could be seen as disruption of the ecosystem of the islands.

Easily solved. Just introduce an animal that eats the new predator lizard overlords.

Re:Why I Used the Word 'Controversial'

[marcosdumay]

Still there is nothing controversial (or even news) on what you said. There is a bit of news on TFA, but not on your interpretation.

And evolution is not controversial. It's even bettter accepted than such things as gravitation, or chemistry.

Re:Why is this controversial?

[Tim Browse]

Think about it

You must be new here.

Re:Article is wrong - Study misinterpreted.

[godless dave]

Are you saying that a science article in the mainstream media was wildly inaccurate and sensationalized? I'm shocked! Shocked! Wait, what's that word that means the opposite of shocked?