| superchunk said: omg. Adaptation is the beginning process of evolution. First you adapt to surrounds by having a metaphysical change. That change is preferred by the species and over time replaces other variants which ultimately finalizes an evolutionary step. Jesus, do you absolutely require that the southern skinks die off 100% to see it as evolution in motion? If so that's crazy. |
Thing is, as it stands the article doesn't seem to show that any further (relative to other conteporaneous populations) adaptation occured. If there's any genetic difference between the populations than yeah, they're diverging and evolution is showing itself. Otherwise, if they're simply making use of a trait that's already present in every population, withouth change or enhancement, than there's not nearly as much to see here.
Also, as libe said, you don't really adapt to the enviroment, the enviroment adapts you :)
I don't see how one branch dying has anything to do with it though.
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