tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post5991316017731169056..comments2024-03-28T02:45:03.204-07:00Comments on Antediluvian Salad: Bear-ly Sustainable: Can Polar Bears Find Refuge in the Genome of Brown Bears?Duane Nashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14467779935085970909noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-67270019694766650902014-07-06T09:21:29.730-07:002014-07-06T09:21:29.730-07:00Interesting. Nature follows strange paths. Perhaps...Interesting. Nature follows strange paths. Perhaps there is a clue in this study about dog origins: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140116190137.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=genomes-of-modern-dogs-and-wolves-provide-new-insights-on-domestication" rel="nofollow">Genomes of modern dogs and wolves provide new insights on domestication</a><br />In short, if dogs and wolves were different enough to be just "different" before dog domestication, and they are now, in some breeds, not so different, due to hybridation -of course-, then, hybridation is wolficating -if you let me use this term- some dogs. Good point. <br />Regardslyutihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594824751624532605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-43159672376627063292014-06-26T08:24:33.826-07:002014-06-26T08:24:33.826-07:00Keeping the northern brown bears alive under extre...Keeping the northern brown bears alive under extreme climate change will be a bit of a challenge too, since it could take up to 400,000 years for Arctic winters to return, and at the height of the warmth, the Arctic Riviera will be a lot like modern day New York.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-3721847151680947722014-06-24T04:20:42.650-07:002014-06-24T04:20:42.650-07:00This also raises the question to what extent polar...This also raises the question to what extent polar bear/brown bear hybridisation occurred during the Pleistocene with fluctuations in climate and ice caps. In fact, might the close relationship between the two species be the result of repeated hybridization events and re-emergence and re-absorption in populations of mostly either species? If so, the initial split between the two might be older than it seems from DNA-studies (possibly accounting for the considerable physical differences between the two), but muddled by such regular and large scale intermixing. An interesting thought!BrianLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17880867575515761505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161161431451849208.post-7192760829048404472014-06-23T12:06:02.311-07:002014-06-23T12:06:02.311-07:00A similar thing is happening with spotted and barr...A similar thing is happening with spotted and barred owls as the spotteds' habitat declines and the more adaptable barred owls expand their range. <br />My first thought was that it was awesome- preserve some traits, perhaps create a more adaptable population, and allow for faster speciation in the future if old growth habitat becomes viable. But it turns out there was a large state sponsored movement to shoot barreds and hybrid 'sparreds' to protect spotteds?. ??? I don't know how it turned out, but I haven't heard anyone talking about the potential benefits of hybridization. Since spotteds continue to decline, it seems like interbreeding would be a timely and useful mechanism...<br />It may be a common thought in some circles that I'm not a part of, but I believe this post is the first I've heard on the subject... So thanks for posting, and for your blog in general. A fantastic read. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com