The Latest Biology News And Medical NewsBiology News 2Health News 2Biology News 3Health News 3
HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Scientist's persistence sheds light on marine science riddle

PHILADELPHIA -- When he started compiling an online database of seashells 15 years ago, Dr. Gary Rosenberg did not envision that his meticulous record-keeping would eventually shed light on a 40-year-old evolutionary debate.

The debate involves the mechanism underlying the island rule: that small animals isolated on islands evolve to be larger than their mainland relatives, and large animals evolve to be smaller. In a paper to be published in September in the Journal of Biogeography, "The Island Rule and the Evolution of Body Size in the Deep Sea," Rosenberg and his co-authors apply the island rule to deep-sea animals using Rosenberg's detailed database of marine snails. They find a similar pattern: when species colonize the deep sea, large-bodied species become smaller and small-bodied species become larger.

"I've been building the Malacolog database for many years as a tool for research, summarizing information on the names and distributions of species of mollusks, but I had not anticipated asking this particular evolutionary question," said Rosenberg, Vice President for the Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution at The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia's natural history museum. "That means that the data entered in the system could not have been subconsciously biased toward this result. I hope there will be many more surprising results in the years to come." The database Malacolog (www.data.acnatsci.org/wasp) documents species of mollusks in the Western Atlantic, from Greenland to Antarctica.

Scientists have suggested several explanations for the evolution of body size in animals isolated on islands: reduced area, fewer predators, less competition, and resource limitation. "Only resource limitation clearly applies to deep-sea animals," said Rosenberg. "We know there is less food available in the deep sea than in shallow water, but the area of the deep sea is much larger. Also, the
'"/>

Contact: Carolyn Belardo
belardo@acnatsci.org
215-299-1043
The Academy of Natural Sciences
7-Sep-2006


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Bioportfolio: Life-long persistence of erythrovirus DNA genomes in human tissue
2. Coelacanth fossil sheds light on fin-to-limb evolution
3. Molecule blocks gene, sheds light on liver cancer
4. Enzyme discovery sheds light on vitamin D
5. Study sheds light on why humans walk on two legs
6. New method for reading DNA sheds light on basis of cell identity
7. Ancient retrovirus sheds light on modern pandemic
8. Executable biology -- Computer science sheds light on animal development
9. New Brandeis research sheds light on memory by erasing it
10. Scripps research team sheds light on long-sought cold sensation gene
11. New study sheds light on long-term effects of logging after wildfire
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Scientist persistence sheds light marine science riddle

(Date:11/19/2008)...of marine invertebrates worms, sponges, jellyfish... of no more than two cells: a photoreceptor cell a...pots, resemble the ,proto-eyes, suggested by Charl...olution. They cannot form images but allow the ani...is crucial for phototaxis the swimming towards li...
(Date:11/19/2008)...24, 2008 -- From the collapse of star-forming clou...e combustion of gasoline in your car engine to the...cs of flight to the concentration of microscopic a...ting phenomena are forms of fluid flow. , The 61...,s Division of Fluid Dynamics, which takes place f...
(Date:11/19/2008)... -- (Nov. 19, 2008) -- Rice University scientists ...orn pollutant TCE have created a method that lets ...a catalyst as individual chemical bonds are formed... bonds between the atoms of our molecules," said r... vibrations change frequency and intensity with ti...
(Date:11/19/2008)..., WI, NOVEMBER 17, 2008 -- One of the biggest thre...ic carbon (SOC) and soil organic matter (SOM) from...hese materials is essential as they do everything ...tering harmful chemical compounds to the preventio...s for crop residues are critical for maintaining s...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Uncovering secrets of life in the ocean 2The physics of star-forming clouds and the urban environment 2The physics of star-forming clouds and the urban environment 3The physics of star-forming clouds and the urban environment 4The physics of star-forming clouds and the urban environment 5The physics of star-forming clouds and the urban environment 6Researchers shed new light on catalyzed reactions 2Researchers shed new light on catalyzed reactions 3A model to measure soil health in the era of bioenergy 2Neurobiological Technologies Inc 28Nasdaq 3A NTII 29 Q2 08 Review Issued By Scimitar Equity Research Inc 3304 1Neurobiological Technologies Inc 28Nasdaq 3A NTII 29 Q2 08 Review Issued By Scimitar Equity Research Inc 3304 2BiPar Names Hoyoung Huh M D Ph D President and Chief Executive Officer 3302 1BiPar Names Hoyoung Huh M D Ph D President and Chief Executive Officer 3302 2Providence Health 26 Services Oregon Region Powers Consumer Portal With Kryptiq Connect IQ 11904 1Providence Health 26 Services Oregon Region Powers Consumer Portal With Kryptiq Connect IQ 11904 2Providence Health 26 Services Oregon Region Powers Consumer Portal With Kryptiq Connect IQ 11904 3MDS to Provide Financial Guidance at 2008 Annual Investor Day 11902 1
Other News:
...rrently used for cell disruption, particle size re...to be 99.99 percent effective in killing bacterial...ure in experiments conducted by researchers at Pen...experiments, bacterial spores contained in a paper...
...lowing results for chronic myelogenous leukemia (C...he one reality check has been that a majority of t...se and die of the leukemia.......An article to be ...er Research shows that, in the lab, the molecular ...
...cal Center investigators are reporting success wit...ls grown in the laboratory, the group is the first...he resulting protein product is functional, said D...published Dec. 15 in the Journal of Clinical Inves...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A study of airflow in pipes may help solve... a mystery concerning the ears of fast-swimming sharks. The results... could also lead to new a
Ultrasound shown to be potentially safe, effective way to kill bacteria 2Mechanism to overcome Gleevec resistance demonstrated 2Novel gene therapy approach shows promise 2Novel gene therapy approach shows promise 3Fluid flow technology takes a cue from fast-swimming sharks 2Fluid flow technology takes a cue from fast-swimming sharks 3Fluid flow technology takes a cue from fast-swimming sharks 4Fluid flow technology takes a cue from fast-swimming sharks 5
...ith an increased risk of the most common type of b...ionship between mobile phone use and risk of gliom...ay.......The four year study by the Universities o...te of Cancer Research, London found those who had ...
...arties should consider health for all when they vo...in this week's issue of The Lancet. ......Last wee... pressure to allow a free vote on an amendment to ...t do not serve food from a smoking ban. Without a ...
...t to see the letters sent to their general practit...blished today in the open access journal BMC Medic...e same information as their general practitioner (...han a letter written especially for them. However,...
...al decisions that need to be informed by science. ...an outbreak of avian flu to developing the most ef...two of the nation's most respected scientific voic...ntific method, that is how scientists go about try...
health news:Mobile phone use not linked to increased risk of glioma brain tumours 2health news:How Science Works and How Can It Inform Policy? 2
...s, CaliforniaDiabetic patients who show no symptom... according to information reported at the Society ... Los Angeles.......SPECT myocardial perfusion imag...atients. Although ECG changes were observed in onl...
...Internal Medicine is published by the American Col...dicine (ACP-ASIM), an organization of more than 11...dents. The following highlights are not intended t...n. For an embargoed fax of an article, call 1-800-...
...of a stress hormone called cortisol and activation...of the classic "fight or flight" response to dange...sed cardiovascular activity is public speaking. A... Experimental Research builds upon previous work b...
...s, CaliforniaPET scans of patients with heart dise... therapy seemed to be working still had progressiv...eported by researchers at the Society of Nuclear M....... ...Michael Merhige, MD, and colleagues from t...
health news:SPECT identifies 'silent' cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients 2health news:Annals of Internal Medicine, tip sheet, June 18, 2002 2health news:Alcoholics have 'blunted' responses to psychological stressors such as public speaking 2health news:Alcoholics have 'blunted' responses to psychological stressors such as public speaking 3health news:PET MPI reveals lipid-lowering medications leave some patients at risk 2