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I was just listening to eons in my car and specifically the episode about armored fish, and the thought occurred to me: isn't evolution ultimately selecting for adaptability? (m.youtube.com)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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It would seem the design that can survive the most extinctions would be the clear winner in the end.

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The thing about coastal areas is they’ll always be a part of Earth’s biosphere. Unlike plains or deserts or deciduous forests, which don’t have to exist, and can completely disappear, coastlines and estuaries can only move, never disappear.

[–] Fluke@discuss.online 2 points 9 months ago

This is a cool point. I've never thought about that before. It's a very stable environment allowing for efficiency to be selected for in ways that may decrease adaptability.

[–] fishos@lemmy.world -3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

A coastline absolutely can vanish(submerged) or be against geography, such as rocky cliffs, that is unsuitable. "Coastlines can't stop existing, only move" is semantic nonesense.

EDIT: for ya downvoters, where's the coastline on an island that vanishes due to rising sea levels? The Marshall Islands have a max elevation of ~7' and are already having issues with rising sea levels. When the sea rises above them, where does their coastal ecosystem go?

[–] FaceDeer@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

If a coastline submerges a new coastline is created further inland. ie, it moved. Or are you proposing a situation where all land is submerged?

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

You’re right, a beach can be replaced by cliffs that a crocodile wouldn’t be able to make use of. That’s a good point.