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Scientists Discover Fish in Act of Evolution in Africa’s Greatest Lake
Quote:
In what could be a first in the world, a fish species known as cichlids has been observed by scientists in the act of splitting into two distinct species in Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and one of the world’s biggest fresh water bodies.
This may be remarkable because what is causing them to diverge are adaptations to their vision as animals and plants try to cope with increased pollution and the effects of climate change. The change is also happening without geographical isolation, which was thought to be a precursor for evolution.
The Pundamilia nyererei is a haplochromine type cichlid native to areas in the Mwanza Gulf region of Lake Victoria. This region consists of many islands where each island region has its own color variant of the fish.
In a report published in the journal Nature, researchers from Tokyo’s Institute of Technology and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology have observed the cichlid evolve into a new species better adapted in sighting its prey and predator.
But the scientists have also tabled evidence indicating that it is not pollution and over-fishing alone that are responsible for the disappearance of some fish species in Lake Victoria and the evolving of others like the cichlid into new species.
The report summarizes that new species may be born because of vision differences and what fish see at least in one African lake could be the driving force that causes them to evolve into new species.
This may explain the very rapid loss of pundamilia in Lake Victoria over the past 30 years. The study says the eye adaptations have also affected mating patterns.
Researchers looked at two species, conspicuous by their red or blue colours. They determined through lab experiments that certain genetic mutations helped some fish adapt their vision at deeper levels to see the colour red and others in shallower water to recognise shades of blue.
The researchers showed that the eyes have adapted to this difference so that fish that live in deeper water have a pigment in their eyes that is more sensitive to red light, while shallow-water fish were sensitive to blue.
Evolutionary science typically holds that new species are born when populations become isolated from one another, forcing them to adapt differently.
I don't understand anyone, even the religious, that can still sit there and try and make a case against evolution, when it has been proven to be true for many decades now. The only thing that should still be in debate, only because it is virtually unprovable, is the origins of life - not what happened after. I would also like to point out that, while Evolution does not recognize the existence of a Creator it also does NOT preclude the existence of such. Evolution by itself is unconcerned with how life originated, but with how life modifies its existence to adapt to its environs.
For anyone that still has any doubt regarding evolution, look up Atavism on Google.
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Last edited by carrrnuttt; October 7th, 2008 at 05:05 PM.
Well, in truth I'm actually not a total hawk, but I'm not a dove either -- I'm more like an angry pigeon flying over the political arena after a really big meal. -Abba Gav
I just finished reading an article in this month's " Scientific American ".It dealt directly with the concept of " evolutionary adaptation " and how it is common throughout the human evolving process.
You guys are throwing around a lot of big words - I fear the Fun-duh-mentalist 'Mericuhns won't comprehend.
Like that lady from Alaska that wants to be VP....
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You guys are throwing around a lot of big words - I fear the Fun-duh-mentalist 'Mericuhns won't comprehend.
Like that lady from Alaska that wants to be VP....
Yep because everyone who is religious is also an idiot, right?
Orgins of life is the main debate. Evolution is a proven fact and one that a majority of the religious except and embrace.
__________________ "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy".
Yep because everyone who is religious is also an idiot, right?
Orgins of life is the main debate. Evolution is a proven fact and one that a majority of the religious except and embrace.
it's not about "religious", it's about "fun-duh-mentalist" - which implies a LITERAL reading of the bible, right???
__________________
"Seachicken - it's what's for dinner" - me (until the 'Hawks sweep the Cards)
Every man has at least a bit of womanizer in him.
Check out Dephinger and Stoutpounder on our respective MySpace pages.
Yep because everyone who is religious is also an idiot, right?
Orgins of life is the main debate. Evolution is a proven fact and one that a majority of the religious except and embrace.
Why do you frequently exaggerate the opinions of others ?
Nobody said that, as Andy replied .. Fundamentalists, particularly Evangelical fundamentalists do not believe in evolution. Heck some of them think the earth is 6,000 years old and we had dinosaurs around in the early days with man.
Yes is is pretty well accepted but not amongst the fundamentalist crowd
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