While driving I noticed a lot of roadkill, will natural selection evolve creatures afraid of tarmac. Discuss.?

Answer 1

Funny idea!!!

Natural selection only really works relatively slowly and fast moving motor vehicles are a very recent thing. It is worth remembering that the process involves steady (usually) changes to individual, or very small groups of genes, and there probably isn't a genetic basis for fear per se.

That said, there are definitely behavioural characteristics associated with distinct genetic groups from within a species Adaptive radiation (such as in Malawi Cichlids) shows how morphological traits can alter behaviour, so that distinct groups occupy different niches within an ecosystem.

As far as morphological traits that affect 'fear of tarmac' are concerned, the jury is probably out...

Either way, there are distinct benefits from hanging around next to the road. You have probably noticed that a lot of the roadkill are either predators or scavengers, and there is a good reason for this. Roads stay warm in to the evening, and with warmth come insects, reptiles, and small mammals or marsupials, who can stay more active due to the increased warmth. Then there are the headlights from the vehicles themselves, which fool a lot of insects that would normally fly towards the moon. Where there are prey, the predators are never far behind...

Finally, natural selection relies on the 'survival of the fittest' concept which basically means 'survival of the most healthy offspring'. If the roadkill had already reproduced many times, it's death would not prevent it's offspring from reproducing - and thus it's genes would still continue to spread...

Answer 2

Natural selection is not the same as evolution.
NS is observed and weeds out weak/disabled/mutant animals.
Evolution is a hypothesis which conjectures that NS acting on mutations brings about new information. This is not observed. All observed mutations are information neutral or lossy.

If a certain mutation resulted in fear of tarmac in a squirrel say, then this might help the squirrel survive. Even if this mutation was selected for and resulted in a population of tarmac-fearing squirrels - this would be devolution not evolution. The tarmac-fearing squirrels would have less genetic information than their ancestors.

This is what has happened, for example, with certain wingless beetles that darwin noticed on Madeira. Having no wings on this island confers an advantange - no danger of being blown out to sea.
http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/749

Answer 3

This is an interesting question, it could be yet another example of how evolution is still happening and that it is more than a theory.
The only problem is, the extreme complexity of creating innate behavior -still it is possible but only with in a population of say rabbits that live by the road side. It wouldn't happen to the entire rabbit population, and we probably wouldn't even notice a difference because they would still be the same species unless the gene that caused the change in behavior is linked to another (e.g. larger ears). This would just be a different population and if it becomes isolated (e.g. there is a road that circles it) they may be come a different species of rabbit....but the chances are so small.

Answer 4

I'm not sure this comes under the heading of natural selection. This is learned behaviour. We still have to teach our kids not too touch the stove.

I would expect already to see, that quicker and more adaptive animals are breeding better in areas close to man. I might not even be surprised to learn that animals living around man had brighter markings (under headlights) than those living deeper in the forest. Afterall they would breed, whilst the duller coloured ones would be roadkill.
(Coming to a highway near you - neon deer!)

But overall I think learned behaviour in highly adaptive species will create successful animals for the future. We are eliminating all the quiet little niches previously filled with diverse vulnerable life.

(edit)
reading some of the knowledgeable answers to your question, it is amazing to me that natural selection / evolution should be so misunderstood even by those who have a reasonable understanding of it.

(2nd)
Chas. - Do genes that survive natural selection have any effect on evolution? Why is evolution not observed? I'm not interested in a PC biology lecture, just facts.

Answer 5

No, even "so reported as straightforward types" of existence are very complicated, so permit's assume the question of trouble-free experience. Commenting frequently on the validity of numerous scientific theories, technology author John Horgan reported: “while the info is tentative, we would desire to continuously no longer be embarrassed to call on consumer-friendly experience for coaching.” Does it incredibly make experience to declare that existence got here approximately with the help of using twist of destiny or via blind forces? regardless of the everyday acceptance of the thought of evolution, many smart human beings, including scientists, are confident that there is an smart writer. A technology professor notes that the final public “overwhelmingly, and sensibly, thinks that existence grow to be designed.” Why so? maximum individuals will effortlessly accept as true with the apostle Paul’s assertion: “each and every house is built by using somebody.” (Hebrews 3:4) Then Paul maintains with the logical end: “He that built all issues is God.” From the Bible’s point of view, it in basic terms does not make experience to understand that a house desires a dressmaker and builder and on the same time declare that a complicated cellular by twist of destiny sprang into existence. The Bible makes an commentary bearing directly to those who reject the existence of a dressmaker and writer: “The mindless one has reported in his heart: ‘there is not any Jehovah.’” (Psalm 14:a million) here, the psalmist reproves people who've yet to be confident. a individual could be guided by using own opinion quite than by using organic objectivity. on the different hand, the smart, discerning individual humbly recognizes the existence of a writer.—Isaiah 40 5:18. for many questioning persons, the info that helps a preferrred dressmaker is unmistakable.

Answer 6

Natural selection or "jumping out of the gene pool" as it is know. Is when people die in funny ways. Like a person jumping of a building hitting a trampalen diveing though a window and jumping back out. People drive to fast so thus the animals trying to cross the road die. But when its children its not ok, animals it is fine

Answer 7

Read what mant said. as an added bonus the creatures who react to blinding light or fast moving "predators" by jumping out of the way are more likely to survive, so the best answer is maybe.

Answer 8

i doubt it no - they just wander out and then wham!