General Discussion

FarCenter

(19,429 posts) Sun Apr 27, 2014, 11:21 PM Apr 2014

Chernobyl's birds adapting to ionizing radiation

Birds in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl are adapting to -- and may even be benefiting from -- long-term exposure to radiation, ecologists have found. The study is the first evidence that wild animals adapt to ionizing radiation, and the first to show that birds which produce most pheomelanin, a pigment in feathers, have greatest problems coping with radiation exposure.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140424223057.htm

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Chernobyl's birds adapting to ionizing radiation (Original Post) FarCenter Apr 2014 OP

That's interesting. 2naSalit Apr 2014 #1

Evolution isn't cut and dry Fearless Apr 2014 #3

I understand that 2naSalit Apr 2014 #4

It's the bugs that come with the birds that are the problem.... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2014 #2

Pics: sl8 Apr 2014 #5

OMG, YIKES! That is closeupready Apr 2014 #7

The "first evidence that wild animals adapt to ionizing radiation"? FBaggins Apr 2014 #6

2naSalit

(86,622 posts)

1. That's interesting.

Reply to FarCenter (Original post)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 01:58 AM

Apr 2014

And suddenly a wonderment has come to mind...

According to some hypotheses, birds are remnants of dinosaurs. So if that is so, how did they survive the extinction event(s)? Might this be a similar adaptation as whatever-it-was that helped them make it into these modern times?

It's late and I'll have to read the article tomorrow, I'm kind of frazzled after seeing the tornado news. Cool post, thanks for sharing.

Fearless

(18,421 posts)

3. Evolution isn't cut and dry

Reply to 2naSalit (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 02:39 AM

Apr 2014

It's not as though one generation was a dinosaur and the next was a bird. There is a lot of grey area, and no specific missing link. Eventually through increased success at reproduction, those with certain qualities outnumber and out-compete those without those qualities for resources. A good example of this is pre-modern man and Neanderthals. Or in a greater scope... birds and mammals in general over reptiles around 65 million years ago.

2naSalit

(86,622 posts)

4. I understand that

Reply to Fearless (Reply #3)

Mon Apr 28, 2014, 12:20 PM

Apr 2014

I just had a moment of wondering (quite unlike Cliven Bundy style wondering) about what sort of adaptations were involved over time and if something like this sort of adaptation could be in the mix. I know about selected for traits and attributes, I just had a thought about radiation and what levels may have been present during the extinction event(s) and whether there may be hold-over characteristics, that's all.

And it was late and my brain felt like mush - kind of like burnt, soggy toast after seeing the tornado news.