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Evolutionary patterns; Evolutionary pattern extrapolation
Topic Started: Nov 15 2009, 08:20 AM (3,508 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.
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
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

Yes, that is true.


And T.Neo: That's why, for my universe, I've completely done away with the Kingdom Animalia and Kingdom Plantae. I've changed it all to [insert planetary name or stem]zoa (when talking about animals
(-zoa means animal or animal-like)) and [insert planetary name or stem]phyta (when talking about plants (-phyta means plant or plant-like)).

Animals or "animals" are just heterotrophs that are often motile. Plants or "plants" are just autotrophs that are often sessile. Of course, that doesn't mean that "animals" have to be motile or that "plants" have to be sessile. It can be switched.

And, of course, you will always have that obscure kingdom (fungi and protista).
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ATEK Azul
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Transhuman
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Empyreon
Nov 16 2009, 05:45 PM
So wait, the ocean is inside the trees? As in, watery inside and (relatively) dry outside? Wild...
Exactly.

It has niches simular to Caves, Forests and the Oceans. Each forest and part of the world is also different and depending on what area and depth/hieght of the plant you are in, the habitats and niches are different.
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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T.Neo
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Canis, I didn't mean the actual names, I meant the concepts behind them. But I see your point.
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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Rumbo a la Victoria

Another pattern- size. Always big creatures in every ecosystem we've had. Well, big relative to the others. Ever since the Cambrian explosion.
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
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Yes, but organisms come in all sizes- and I've put large herbivores in the list, as well as specialist carnivores. IMO, exceptionally large carnivores such as tyrannosaurus or giganotosaurus are specialist carnivores.
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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Rumbo a la Victoria

Why does no-one mention Charcharodontosaurus? It's almost as big...
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
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I was about to, but decided against it to avoid muddling around with spelling. xD
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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Rumbo a la Victoria

Well, giganotosaurus and charchy were allosaurs, which were generalist predators.
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
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True. They're more like big allosaurs, whereas tyrannosaurs with their big mouths and small arms were specialists.
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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Rumbo a la Victoria

Things like spinosaurs were specialists.
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
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

Ahh. Again, my mistake. But thank you.
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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Tyrannosaurs was indeed a specialist. It was specialized in hunting and eating specifically large prey, though it wasn't above eating and scavenging smaller animals.
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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Empyreon
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Are you plausible?

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So entirely alien kingoms could exist.


The core of this argument still interests me. "Plants" are generally accepted as photoautotrophs, and "animals" are chemoheterotrophs. Is there anything else people can think of? Photoheterotrophs and chemoautotrophs are possible as well, but can anyone think of anything else? I've read that, as far as xenobiology is concerned, chemoautotrophs are the most likely to find success. Thoughts?
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food for thought
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T.Neo
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Spinosaurs were specialists, yes, but I'm not sure if they fall into the "specialist predator" niche. AFAIK most of their diet consisted of fish and carrion.

Yes tyrannosaurs would have rarely turned down an oppurtunity to consume small prey or carrion, but then again neither would a lion, tiger or any other specialist predator of today. It is hard to find either an exclusive predator or scavenger.

Chemoautotrophs are common on Earth (sulfur loving vent bacteria and rock-eating organisms living 3km underground in South African gold mines), but no macroscopic chemoautotrophs exist.

You see, it's just plain easier to metabolise using sunlight, then only metabolise in small environments with available nutrients.
So, I'd expect chemoautotrophs to be common only in places where photosynthesis were impossible or difficult (on a seafloor, etc).

And the concept of photoheterotrophs confuses me- that would be an organism utilising the bioluminescence of another organism for energy?

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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Rumbo a la Victoria

A specialist predator... human flea?
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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