Posted on 05/11/2009 9:44:54 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Garden snails are evolving slower metabolisms. Natural selection is favouring snails with reduced metabolic rates, researchers in Chile have discovered. It is the first time that evolution has been shown to select for this trait in individuals of any species. Snails with lower metabolisms are at an advantage because they have more energy to spend on other activities such as growth or reproduction, the researchers say in the journal Evolution. Roberto Nespolo and Paulina Artacho of the Southern University of Chile in Valdivia examined a long standing biological hypothesis known as the "energetic definition of fitness". "This predicts that animals that spend less energy will have more surplus for survival and reproduction," says Nespolo.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I’ve been waiting for this news!
And all along I thought it was global warming!
“This predicts that animals that spend less energy will have more surplus for survival and reproduction,” says Nespolo.
Mr. Nespolo needs to study hibernating bears and try to figure out whether a snail is a bear’s uncle or vice versa. What a junkscientist.
Thanks for posting.
Leni
Which reminds me, the price of stamps has gone up to 44 cents as of today.
Leni
Cheers!
I am curious as to what sort of person thinks discovering this crap is even remotely important to humans. And if they knew as a child that they wanted to study the fluctuating speeds of snails when they grew up. Too many government grants, I think.
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