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Evolutionary patterns; Evolutionary pattern extrapolation
Topic Started: Nov 15 2009, 08:20 AM (3,509 Views)
T.Neo
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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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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Blue light is pretty much essential in photosynthesis. A plant not taking in blue light is like a cow living in a field and eating everything except the grass. It's just an evolutionary mistake that will drive it to extinction.
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

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Canis Lupis
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

So if a plant is blue, that means it won't absorb blue light?

Sorry. I don't know much about photosynthesis. All I know is it is something plants use to make their own energy from the sun's light.
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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Yes, because if it is blue that means it is reflecting blue light rather than absorbing it, which is why we perceive it as blue instead of any other color.
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

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Canis Lupis
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

Gotcha. So is black light useless then? Because I've heard that a black plant is the most advantageous.



Oh, and are there any advantages to being a red plant versus any other color? Besides black of course.
Edited by Canis Lupis, Nov 15 2009, 08:19 PM.
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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Well there's no such thing as black light. Black isn't really a color, it's just the absence of color; in the same way there's really no such thing as "cold," there just the absence of heat. If a plant is black that means it's not reflecting any light, which means it must be absorbing all of it. Very good if you live in a cold place with little light, as it gives you maximum heat and light. Well the plant being red had less to do with the absorption of light than it did with the creation of chlorophyll. I don't remember exactly but it requires less energy to produce red pigmented chlorophyll than it does green chlorophyll. Or something like that.
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

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Canis Lupis
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

Thanks for answering Parasky.
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T.Neo
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I have indeed forgotten plants.

However, I'm not so sure clearly defined classes of "plants" "animals" and "fungi" will exist elsewhere. So plant niches might not be similar to those on Earth. (Rich coming from me, as I've just filled a whole section with animal niches. :P )

So entirely alien kingoms could exist. They might be sessile, or active, or somewhere in between the two and posess perhaps chemical methods or somesuch for conveying information. Even on Earth it gets confusing- fungi were lumped in with plants, and seperate groups such as slime molds were grouped in with fungi. Despite fungi being more closely related to animals then to plants...

We could also see traits of familiar kingdoms adopted in other familiar kingdoms; i.e. animal-analogues with fungi like cells.

I will add symbiotes, symbiosis is a very common evolutionary trait. Blood suckers falls under parasites (I've used the term very broadly; simply put, a parasite is something that exploits another organism to the detriment of that organism).

Microbial niches are IMO too broad, and I must admit I know very little about microbial life, but if you have any examples of traits in the microbial world please let me know and I'll add them.

Btw, wouldn't the most efficient colour for plants be black? They would absorb the most light possible that way.


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
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You could have a planet based entirely on plant/animal symbiotes.
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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ATEK Azul
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Nov 16 2009, 03:44 PM
You could have a planet based entirely on plant/animal symbiotes.
Bulbasaur I choose you!

Sorry couldn't resist. Any way I have had many ideas for this along with more extreme symbiotic creatures than any thing on Earth. It can be an interesting world.
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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Holben
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Aargh. Pokemon.

Well, if you show us...
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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ATEK Azul
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Nov 16 2009, 03:52 PM
Aargh. Pokemon.

Well, if you show us...
You talking to me about showing you?

If you are I would only give a couple basics. I want to publish some Ideas so I share little thanks to copy right stuff.
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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Holben
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I never take ideas. From people. With names beginning with A.
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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ATEK Azul
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I am not saying any one of you will take my ideas I am just super careful.

As for the Idea I created a Ocean inside of a network of trees(Think a complex Amoebic sea turned into a forest). These symbiotes hold all the animals in the ecosystem inside them where they swin from plant to plant using a root network.
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

The reproductive method of plants, that is, spreading spores around, as well as drawing water from the ground with roots would be useful for many animals, especially in an arid or frozen place, where water is hard to get at directly.
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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Empyreon
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Are you plausible?

So wait, the ocean is inside the trees? As in, watery inside and (relatively) dry outside? Wild...
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus!

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food for thought
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