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https://theconversation.com/stoneflies-change-colour-in-response-to-deforestation-suggesting-humans-can-alter-evolution-new-research-242008>
"As we continue to change the planet, scientists are worried we might also be
altering the evolutionary trajectories of the species that live alongside us,
perhaps even including some irreversible shifts.
Certainly, the evidence for change is everywhere. As the planet warms, species’
ranges are shifting and their life cycles are changing. As we harvest the
largest fish in the ocean, the species affected are now maturing at smaller
sizes.
But are these shifts we observe in wild populations underpinned by genetic
changes (mutations in the DNA) or are they simply flexible responses to
environmental change? If the changes are genetic, how are they happening?
So far, researchers have observed fewer clear-cut examples of human-induced
evolution in the wild than one might imagine. But our new study may provide a
new “textbook” case of human-driven evolution in wild insects.
Our findings are centred on an intriguing case of “mimicry” from New Zealand,
in which a harmless insect has evolved to mimic the warning colours of a highly
toxic species."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
