tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post8389042926596724069..comments2024-03-24T05:50:07.033-07:00Comments on Biologizing: The Battle for StripesPeter Houlihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-72747678644964302982014-04-06T20:58:14.364-07:002014-04-06T20:58:14.364-07:00The general idea is that zebras with more intense ...The general idea is that zebras with more intense or vibrant striping patterns have better resistant against bug bites. It seems, at least to the researchers, that the bugs serve as more of an annoyance that anything else ..however that is debatable since the article did not specify any other details. They simply studied geographical locations, and saw a huge correlation between the two species. Perhaps these bugs carry lethal pathogens, or cause open wounds that later lead to infection and lower overall fitness..in any case, these species of bugs demonstrate a general avoidance behavior in response to the black and white patterning, in addition their location with the zebras suggests some sort of coevolution.<br /><br />Max LinerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-63764217306498798562014-04-06T20:47:41.723-07:002014-04-06T20:47:41.723-07:00I'm not sure. Unfortunately, the article was n...I'm not sure. Unfortunately, the article was not very specific on any other details. They basically mentioned their findings on the bugs and said its possible the bugs are a leading force in the evolution of stripes. They did acknowledge the fact that they were not sure why the bugs and zebras have this correlation, but its seems to like more research will be put into the idea...hopefully. Its a reasonable hypothesis and factors like disease might be a huge influence. <br /><br />Max LinerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-8908797187766476062014-04-05T11:21:25.954-07:002014-04-05T11:21:25.954-07:00this is a very interesting post. Are there possibl...this is a very interesting post. Are there possibly diseases that are associated with the fly's bug biting that makes it a more influential selective pressure?<br />posted by kristen whitehead Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-18153345380199929092014-04-04T16:42:57.214-07:002014-04-04T16:42:57.214-07:00Something that perhaps I am missing, or could be a...Something that perhaps I am missing, or could be a consideration, is how biting flies could present selective pressure under the model of natural selection? Do biting flies kill or interrupt mating somehow? If not, how could it be that zebras would have a better survival rate with stripes than without?<br />One key piece of information I could be mistaken about is the nature of biting bugs, if they kill then I am wrong. If they do not kill, it seems like "annoyance" would not be enough as a selective pressure.<br /><br />Posted by Michael DailingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-23220573280098223712014-04-03T21:29:57.451-07:002014-04-03T21:29:57.451-07:00The theory that the first zebra evolved stripes to...The theory that the first zebra evolved stripes to combat flies is an interesting one. However, it seems to me that a striped zebra would be super easy to spot by a predator, if none of the other zebras are striped. Predators would likely chase and kill this zebra, because of its lack of camouflage. It seems unlikely to me that, for the first striped zebras, the advantage of not getting attacked by flies as much was enough of an advantage to outweigh the disadvantage of giving up camouflage.<br />-JEPeter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.com