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Evolutionary patterns; Evolutionary pattern extrapolation
Topic Started: Nov 15 2009, 08:20 AM (3,503 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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Are you plausible?

I was talking more on a microbiological level...
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food for thought
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Ànraich
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alienboy
Nov 23 2009, 11:15 PM
What about urineation? It seems like a big waste of water to me. Why havn't we evolved to keep the water and dispose of the wasted chemicals in our feces?
There is actually very little water in urine. It's mostly composed of ammonia. The only real alternative to urination is to have it diffuse across the surface of your skin. Do you want to be caked in ammonia all the time?
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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Are you plausible?

Hmm... Every source I can find says urine is at least 90% water...
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Ànraich
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It depends on your water intake. Urine not only removes liquid waste from your body but prevents you from taking in too much water, which can be just as detrimental to your health as taking in too little. There's really no set "composition" for urine, it's made of whatever liquids your body feels you don't need.
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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Are you plausible?

Sources? Everything I'm finding says that it's in the 90%-95% range and that the rest is dependent on what's purged from the body.
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Ànraich
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My sources? Where are your sources?
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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Are you plausible?

From here:

Quote:
 
Normal composition of urine is water - 95 per cent, other major and common constituents are sodium - 0.4 per cent, ammonia - 0.05 per cent, phosphates - 0.6 per cent, urea - 2 per cent, sulfate - 0.2 per cent and creatine, urobilinogen, casts, etc. in minute quantities. Normally, soluble substances are excreted in the urine.


Here:

Quote:
 
Urine is a transparent solution that can range from colorless to amber but is usually a pale yellow. Urine is an aqueous solution of approximately 95% water, with the remaining percentages being metabolic wastes such as urea, dissolved salts, and organic compounds. Fluid and materials being filtered by the kidneys, destined to become urine, come from the blood or interstitial fluid.


Here:

Quote:
 
In actuality, urine is made of water and wastes. Ninety-six percent of it is water and four percent of it is waste such as urea and salts.


And here:

Quote:
 
What is contained in normal urine ?

* Approx. 95% of the volume of normal urine is due to water.
* The other 5% consists of solutes (chemicals that are dissolved in the water).


Now, there are examples of other animals with more concentrated urine, which is an advantage for those that live where water is scarce, but in general urine is mostly water.


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Ànraich
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi

I was under the impression that it was mostly ammonia. Perhaps that is true for less complex organisms, as us more complex ones probably take in enough water to make that system feasible. I mean, trees can take in several tons of water a year but can't physically use all of it, makes sense we would be capable of the same thing (taking in too much water, not taking in several tons of it a year).
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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Are you plausible?

There surely is ammonia in there, and a different composition may exist in 'earlier' creatures, as you said. And yeah, there is more water expelled in order to keep us from damaging ourselves, but it comes out more frequently instead of more diluted.

So drink water, people! It does your kidneys wonders!
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus!

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food for thought
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Paul_de_Vries
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About the excretion thing. Maybe it has to do with evolutionary economics. Cost/benefit... oppertunity cost... that kinda thing. Maybe the benefit of having perfect digestion would be outweighed by the costs of the processes involved. And maybe a system where the benefits are economically attractive is irreducibly complex and thus will never evolve.
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

Well, if you digest certain things it changes the colour of your urine.
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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Here these are interesting routes for evolution.

http://bensen-daniel.deviantart.com/journal/23488328/
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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