Posted on 05/06/2010 5:24:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The so-called "Moa's Ark" theory - that New Zealand's animal and plant life has evolved largely untouched over 80 million years since the Gondwana supercontinent broke up - is being challenged by new molecular evidence from native birds.
Dr Steve Trewick and Gillian Gibb, from the Institute of Natural Resources, have carried out a review of the molecular phylogenetic evidence for New Zealand's bird life...
According to the review of the data, Dr Trewick says we must continue to rethink the way the biota (animal and plant life) developed and recognise that it has changed considerably over time. "Many New Zealand birds are ecologically very distinctive," he says, "But the makeup of the avifauna is composite and mixed in space and time. A very high proportion of birdlife in New Zealand has its origins in Australia, but others come from various other parts of the Pacific or northern regions."
This observation supports the hypotheses of eminent biologists of the 1950-1970s, including Sir Charles Fleming and Robert Falla. It is also consistent with emerging understanding of the formation of the New Zealand islands, which are much younger than the separation of the now largely submerged Zealandia micro-continent from Australia and Antarctica about 80 million years ago.
Some species are so like those in Australia they cannot be distinguished even with molecular data. At the other extreme are some that certainly share ancestors with Australian species but are very different. For example, the giant eagle evolved within the last two million years and is most closely related to a small Australian eagle.
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Thanks to a FReeper who wishes to remain anonymous for this link, and for one of the better laughs I've had this week. |
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Life spreads, no matter where it’s tried. :-)
Moa’s Auk? Great!
My waistline is exhibit A!
LOL!
Hey, Fred, who was the genius who put those friggin' eagles on the Ark with us???
LOL, now you want to discuss gravity?
I’m female. Don’t talk to me about gravity. ;-)
;’)
They must have made a fowl stench.
My guess is that a bird molecule is made from a complex string of feather atoms (low atomic weight, you know)combined with a small number of meat ions and bone atoms.
That's just a guess.
Weight for it....
I recognized your . . . .
Probably so, but in that case, what *weighs* more, a mole of feather atoms, or a mole of bone atoms? ;’)
I’m getting the “hosted by Tripod” image instead. :’(
I don't have to...it's catching up with me. ;-)
:’) Thanks!
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