Tag

Evolutionary Ecology

All articles tagged with #evolutionary ecology

science1 year ago•34 min saved

"The Surprising Connection Between Flocking and Computing"

Evolutionary ecologist Iain Couzin discusses the collective behaviors of animals, such as flocking and swarming, and their similarities to computation. He explains how studying various organisms, from simple placozoa to complex vertebrates, can provide insights into the origins of intelligence and the emergence of complex life. Couzin also highlights the use of advanced technologies to study animal group dynamics and the potential impact on global food security through improved understanding of swarming pests like locusts.

via Quanta Magazine|

#animal-behavior #collective-behavior #computation

evolutionary-ecology2 years ago•3 min saved

"The Ecology of Shrinking Animals: Unveiling Evolution's Influence on Size"

A new study challenges traditional views on animal size evolution by demonstrating how ecological factors, such as competition for resources and extinction risk, influence animal size changes over time. Contradicting Cope’s rule, the research finds that intense competition often leads to smaller sizes, as seen in Alaskan horses and island lizards. The study provides a nuanced understanding of size evolution, explaining the conflicting patterns observed in fossil records.

via Neuroscience News|

#animal-size #competition #ecological-factors

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"1.7 Billion T. Rex Once Roamed the Earth: Study"

A new study challenges the previous estimate of 2.5 billion T. Rex that ever walked the Earth, suggesting that the maximum number was 1.7 billion. The new model, created by evolutionary ecologist Eva Griebeler, addresses some of the "shortcomings" of the previous study and calculates that T. Rex were around for roughly 90,000 generations, each with around 19,000 individuals. The previous model estimated there to be a total of 127,000 generations of T. Rex, each with approximately 20,000 individuals. The study raises the question of where the rest of the T. Rex fossils are, as only one fossil has been recovered per 52.5 million individuals.

via IFLScience|

#dinosaurs #evolutionary-ecology #fossil-record