Sunday, November 26, 2006

Rapid evolution and behavioral adaptation

Environmental pressures lead to behavioral adaptation that leads to genetic adaptation through natural selection.

I wonder if natural selection is the only agent at work in selecting the leg-length? If the lizard can adapt its behavior, can it also adapt the genetic predisposition of its offspring.

I also wonder if the behavioral adaptation is learned or inherited? Does the lizard's preference for the trees come from a learned fear of the predator or an intrinsic neurochemical preference for trees?

"Anolis sagrei spends much of its time on the ground, but previous research has shown that when a terrestrial predator is introduced, these lizards take to trees and shrubs, becoming increasingly arboreal over time...

"The behavioral shift from the ground to higher perches apparently caused this remarkable reversal, Losos says, adding that behavioral flexibility may often drive extremely rapid shifts in evolution."

Pressured by predators, lizards see rapid shift in natural selection:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home