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| Evolutionary patterns; Evolutionary pattern extrapolation | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 15 2009, 08:20 AM (3,504 Views) | |
| T.Neo | Nov 15 2009, 08:20 AM Post #1 |
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Translunar injection: TLI
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I'd like to take the oppurtunity to post some things that have evolved multiple times/niches that have evolved multiple times. Body structures and life stratagies: Eyes- evolved multiple times. Advanced eyes have evolved multiple times as well. Vision is a very useful ability, I don't see why this wouldn't evolve elsewhere. Jaws/mouthparts- evolved multiple times. From the derived gill arches of vertebrates, to the leg-derived mandibles of arthropods, and the rasping radulae of molluscs. Jaws also seem to be a very useful feature, and have evolved to fit several different roles. Supporting structures- evolved multiple times, in more advanced creatures such as arthropods and vertebrates. Simply put, supporting structures are essential to becoming a dominant species, although an exoskeleton can hinder size. Armor- evolved multiple times. The exoskeletons of arthropods are both supporting structures and armor, although some species are more protected then others. Also very common in benthos such as molluscs, brachiopods and sea urchins. Vertebrates, especially tetrapods, display many vastly different armor schemes. Insulatory structures- evolved multiple times, vital to temperature regulation in active creatures. From the hair of mammals to the hair-like structures of pterosaurs and protofeathers of dinosaurs, and fluffy setae of bumblebees, insulatory structures are quite likely to evolve elsewhere. Flight- evolved multiple times, once in arthropods and three times in vertebrates. Mechanisms for flight differ. Euosociality- evolved multiple times in arthropods, and even in mammals. Display organs- horns, crests, etc. Multiple times in vertebrates, especially dinosaurs/mammals. Camoflage- very common. Is dependant on the environment, but is almost certain to evolve elsewhere. Hydrodynamic bodyplans- evolved multiple times, in fish, squid, icthyosaurs, dolphins/whales and to a lesser extent in some other secondarily aquatic lineages. Reliant polinisation, i.e. flowers- relying on another organism to propagate the gametes. This occurs in some of Earth's plants. Symbiosis- evolved multiple times. Corals and algae, and the fungi and algae that make up lichens, etc. Life stratagies: Small shelly organisms- brachiopods and some molluscs. Specialised carnivores- tyrannosaurs, big cats. Generalist carnivores- allosaurs, maniraptors, dogs/wolves. Gigantic aquatic filter-feeders- baleen whales, certain fish. Small herbivores- hypsilophodonts, deer etc and kangaroos/wallabies. All very different yet have some key similarities. Medium herbivores- term is relative. buffalo, bison, mammoths, elephants, hadrosaurs, ceratopsians. All very common in their environments. Large herbivores- sauropods, indricotheres. Perhaps mammoths and elephants in their particular environments. Ant/termite eaters- anteaters, pangolins. Clearly ants would not exist outside of Earth (unless introduced) but equivalent creatures should occupy the niche. Armored animals- tortoises, ankylosaurs/stegosaurs, glyptodonts and perhaps rhinoceroses. Heavily armored animals. Parasites- evolved multiple times. Animals that exploit other animals to survive. I am sure there are more repeated traits or niches, feel free to correct any errors or make additions. Edited by T.Neo, Nov 16 2009, 08:52 AM.
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| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
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| Holben | Nov 15 2009, 08:44 AM Post #2 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Well, with herbivores there are three tactics which govern their evolution on earth, speed, armour and size. So all herbivores we know of are built around at least one of these. In a world without carnivores, however... Carnivores evolve around herbivores. Most are adapted to catch, ambush, or eat carrion. These govern their evolution. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Rick Raptor | Nov 15 2009, 09:17 AM Post #3 |
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Adolescent
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You´ve forgotten marine organisms. We have fish, many different prehistoric reptiles (Metriorhynchidae, Ichthyosauridae, Plesiosauridae, Mosasauridae), marine birds, marine mammals... If you have a planet with large oceans these have to be filled with life, and some of these creatures would certainly have a body shape comparable to sharks / Ichthyosaurs / dolphins. |
| [My DeviantArt account] | |
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| Holben | Nov 15 2009, 09:19 AM Post #4 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Yes, and with marine animals you get armoured, fast, big and camouflaged ones. Actually, i left camouflage from the other post... |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Rick Raptor | Nov 15 2009, 09:23 AM Post #5 |
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Adolescent
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Well, camouflage depends on your surroundings, and who knows how these might look like on an alien planet? |
| [My DeviantArt account] | |
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| Holben | Nov 15 2009, 09:25 AM Post #6 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Acid green with pink polka dots? |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| T.Neo | Nov 15 2009, 11:17 AM Post #7 |
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Translunar injection: TLI
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Herbivores on a planet without predators would be interesting. They'd probably be slow, fat and large. But such a scenario is unlikely, as carnivory is lucrative enough to warrant special adaptations such as teeth and claws. Yes, I did forget (some) marine organisms. A fishlike bodyplan seems to be a good idea (although, one could argue that dolphins and icthyosaurs actually re-evolved a fishlike body from a tetrapod form), but look at squid- they are fast pelagic oceanic creatures, but they look nothing like fish. I'm not sure about the swimming habits of Anomalocaris or the sea scorps, but I'd imagine at least some of them could swim quite well, and they didn't look like fish. I'm not saying a fishlike bodyplan isn't the best, nor am I saying that it is. But a hydrodynamic bodyplan certainly works well, whatever it is.
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| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
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| Holben | Nov 15 2009, 11:20 AM Post #8 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Eel power! Or things like tapeworms. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Canis Lupis | Nov 15 2009, 11:28 AM Post #9 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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Very useful list. Thank you T.Neo. Anyway, some other things I've noticed: Reproductive strategies: Dispersal: where the creature just ejects the gametes and hopes they are caught by another organism. Sponges, plants, other sessile creatures, and cnidarians utilize this strategy. Oviparity: this is the ability to lay eggs. This, obviously, has evolved multiple times. Arthropods, reptiles, dinos, amphibians, mollusks, birds, etc. Viviparity: the ability to give birth to live young. Mammals (save monotremes), some snakes, numerous marine reptiles, and sharks have all utilized this strategy. |
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| T.Neo | Nov 15 2009, 12:30 PM Post #10 |
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Translunar injection: TLI
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I don't know about reproductive stratagies. For example, oviparity didn't evolve inpendantly in reptiles, dinosaurs and amphibians. It evolved in the common ancestor of the group. Not sure if that ancestor is shared between verts, arthropods and mollusks, or arthropods and mollusks though. AFAIK there are several kinds of viviparity- only a few animals use true viviparity. So, yeah. I'm not sure that alien organisms would even evolve oviparity, and instead have some other adaptation. P.S, some plants rely on other organisms to disperse and fertilise their gametes- not sure if this has evolved multiple times, but I'll add it anyway. EDIT: Parasites added as a life stratagy. Edited by T.Neo, Nov 15 2009, 12:34 PM.
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| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
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| Canis Lupis | Nov 15 2009, 01:02 PM Post #11 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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Yes, that is true. My mistake. |
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| ATEK Azul | Nov 15 2009, 03:14 PM Post #12 |
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Transhuman
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Please don't forget Symbiotes like Lichen and Corals. Or even some Crabs and Worms. Another thing is the Microbial niches like Viruses and Bacteriophages, or Ameobas. Another thing to consider is feeding on blood. And then there are Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Holben | Nov 15 2009, 04:34 PM Post #13 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Erm... CL, reptiles, dinos and birds are all the same group. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Ànraich | Nov 15 2009, 04:53 PM Post #14 |
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi
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I feel that plants have been neglected; they are essential in how non-plant life develops. So far I can think of three types of plants; -Flowering: Things like vines, fruit bearing trees, and grasses. They can reproduce rapidly when small and light, with pollen carried by the wind, like grasses. However most will probably become specialized for small insect like organisms to come feed on them, thereby pollinating other plants unknowingly. -Generalized: These are the various types of plants we would have seen around Dino-Age Earth. Ferns, coniferous trees, etc. They're very adaptable and grow quickly and easily. -Specialized: Things like cacti that are adapted to a specific kind of environment. Sometimes they can survive elsewhere, sometimes they can't. Aquatic plants, lacking roots (the "roots" on aquatic plants are actually called Holdfasts, and serve no function as the entire plant is used to photosynthesize) can only survive in water while cacti can live anywhere, so long as they don't freeze. Also, as we have discussed many times before, plants can come in almost every color, with the exception of blue (unless they don't photosynthesize, then the whole spectrum is free game). However the most common types of pigment are green, red, and brown. While it seems to us that green is the best, red is actually far more efficient at generating food; the only reason green plants dominate Earth is because they reproduced and adapted faster than red plants, which became specialized. I bet though that you'll be more likely to find red plants than green on most worlds. Other plant-like organisms, such as fungi, could just as easily become dominant; especially given the ability of fungi to exist over a very wide range of temperatures. Edited by Ànraich, Nov 15 2009, 04:56 PM.
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We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
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| Canis Lupis | Nov 15 2009, 05:01 PM Post #15 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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Parasky: why is it that plants can't be blue? I'm no botanist so I just want to know for my own planet creations. |
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