Evolutionary adaptation due to oil spills.

Has there been any research done about evolutionary adaptions with oil spills? Will different species be created? Well evolution speed up in the gulf?

Maybe we can pull together some hypothesis's on this.

Please dont tell me your buying into this BS
What could possible evolve in ocean that has such a high concentration of oil and methane?

reply to post by Phlynx


Evolutionary adaptations need evolutionary time-scales to take place, though something like a micro organism (oil eating bacteria) with a relatively fast reproduction rate, could see changes to its physical make-up should it be of benefit to it in propagating its genetic material. Of course whatever environmental factor (oil related) would need to persist in that environment over a sufficient span of time.

Rather than "will different species be created " ...... it may be a case of what surviving species will fill the niches invariable left vacant by the mass die-off of life in the Gulf . But with such a finely tuned environment, with so many species directly or indirectly dependant upon one another ..... its safe to say - nothing good will come of this event .

[edit on 23-5-2010 by UmbraSumus]

Originally posted by Aussie_Rock
Please dont tell me your buying into this BS
What could possible evolve in ocean that has such a high concentration of oil and methane?

Let's look at Earth for example:

The planet is currently evolving (and always has been) and it's adapting to our existence and our ways of living. Is this good for us? No, obviously. We are destroying the planet and it's adapting to the use of fossil fuels and pollution. But it'll continue to evolve and adapt.

This horrendous spill has affected sea life and beyond...will the multiple species adapt to it? Yes, and we'll see how that one goes.


[edit on 23-5-2010 by GorehoundLarry]

reply to post by Phlynx


Being that evolution is a fairy tale forced upon us almost akin to the hoax of global warming, I doubt anyone will jump to see if a fish can evolve oil resistant scale's. However we could lead the way by recycling old work boots to get the oil resistant sole's and glue them to pelican butts.

reply to post by Loken68


With all due respect, but I just want to inform you that evolution is no longer mythical these days. I'm not sure why you'd refuse to believe a very important aspect of life. But to each their own. Thanks.

reply to post by Phlynx

Has there been any research done about evolutionary adaptions with oil spills?

Not sure about adaptations, but degradation seems more likely, see this post:

"RELAX!" & "no big deal", Oh? - Gulf Oil Spill Creates 'Giant Experiment' in Marine Toxicology

Scientists are warning that it could have quite an impact.

reply to post by Phlynx

Well evolution speed up in the gulf?

The species with better adaptations to living in oil infested waters will probably be the only survivors, so an unnatural form of natural selection at work will ensure they survive and pass on their genes, whilst fish, dolphins etc, all die. Everything dies that cannot adapt to environmental changes.

I don't this as anything to be happy about because most life will perish under dreadful conditions that's changing too fast for most of life to ever adapt to.



[edit on 23-5-2010 by john124]

reply to post by GorehoundLarry


Your off topic get back in line

reply to post by john124


For pete's sake they can't adapt to live in petroleum unless they evolve their carbon based bodies into silicon.

Originally posted by Aussie_Rock

Please dont tell me your buying into this BS

What could possible evolve in ocean that has such a high concentration of oil and methane?

Who knows?

The ocean is largely an unknown.

"Alien-like Squid With "Elbows" Filmed at Drilling Site"



[edit on 23-5-2010 by Freedom or Death]

Originally posted by UmbraSumus

Rather than "will different species be created " ...... it may be a case of what surviving species will fill the niches invariable left vacant by the mass die-off of life in the Gulf .

Thats a good point and worth elaborating.

Creatures dont "adapt to" changes in their environment in the sense that many people think they do. It would be nice if that were the case, but thats very misleading. What actually happens is that there is variation within a species already, and when an event happens, there may be some individuals in that group who are able to handle the pollution better than others. The ones that are not able to handle the pollution will die off, and if the ones who can handle it better live long enough to reproduce, those "handle it better" genes will end up dominant in the survivors.

However it is also possible there will be no "handle it better" genes in a given population, and if there are not, that entire group may become extinct. Then, as UmbraSummas points out, other things will just fill in the niche left by the creatures who went extinct.

Originally posted by Loken68
reply to post by GorehoundLarry

 

Your off topic get back in line

How so? The topic is evolution. It's not a fairy tale as you made it out to be. Instead, it's absolute factual science and there's enough proof to back it up.

Thanks!

Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander

Originally posted by UmbraSumus

Rather than "will different species be created " ...... it may be a case of what surviving species will fill the niches invariable left vacant by the mass die-off of life in the Gulf .

Thats a good point and worth elaborating.

Creatures dont "adapt to" changes in their environment in the sense that many people think they do. It would be nice if that were the case, but thats very misleading. What actually happens is that there is variation within a species already, and when an event happens, there may be some individuals in that group who are able to handle the pollution better than others. The ones that are not able to handle the pollution will die off, and if the ones who can handle it better live long enough to reproduce, those "handle it better" genes will end up dominant in the survivors.

However it is also possible there will be no "handle it better" genes in a given population, and if there are not, that entire group may become extinct. Then, as UmbraSummas points out, other things will just fill in the niche left by the creatures who went extinct.

That's what I mean by adaptation. I should have elaborated more.