
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
Austin Ashbaugh
Darwin did not expect to have "his" theory applied to pixelated creatures...this is payback for taking the limelight over Wallace. On Adapt or Die, Austin (a PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) explores topics in popular culture that can be dissected with evolutionary theories and ideas. We will ask questions like "Does Pokémon evolution work like actual evolution?" or "How would evolution inform what lives and what dies after nuclear fallout". Combining peer-reviewed science, humour, and a smidge of speculation we will adapt our understanding of pop culture together.
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Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

9. One Flew Over the Archeops' Nest: Fossils
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
12/03/24 • 41 min
Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the rock type. Our evolutionary connection to the rock type is fossils.
In the Safari Zone, I get into how fossils form, how we know what fossils are associated with what animals, and the basis for all of the fossil pokémon. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about the the lack of mammalian fossil pokémon. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the deerling line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Bluesky and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Cerda, I. A., Novas, F. E., Carballido, J. L., & Salgado, L. (2022). Osteohistology of the hyperelongate hemispinous processes of Amargasaurus cazaui (Dinosauria: Sauropoda): Implications for soft tissue reconstruction and functional significance. _Journal of Anatomy_, _240_(6), 1005-1019.
2. Clements, T., Atterby, J., Cleary, T., Dearden, R. P., & Rossi, V. (2022). The perception of palaeontology in commercial off-the-shelf video games and an assessment of their potential as educational tools. _Geoscience Communication_, _5_(3), 289-306.
3. Li, C., Wu, XC., Rieppel, O. _et al._ An ancestral turtle from the Late Triassic of southwestern China. _Nature_ **456**, 497–501 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07533
4. Lopatin, A.V., Sotnikova, M.V., Klimovsky, A.I. _et al._ Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat _Homotherium latidens_ from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia. _Sci Rep_ **14**, 28016 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79546-1
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

11. Fahrenheit 006: Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
12/31/24 • 37 min
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the fire type. Our evolutionary connection to the ice type is evolutionary developmental biology.
In the Safari Zone, I get into developmental modularity, novelty, and allometry with appropriate fire-type pokémon case-studies. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about pokémon eggs. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the Torkoal line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Grant, P. R., Abbott, I., Schluter, D., Curry, R. L., & Abbott, L. K. (1985). Variation in the size and shape of Darwin's finches. _Biological Journal of the Linnean Society_, _25_(1), 1-39.
2. Huxley, J. S. (1950). Relative growth and form transformation. _Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B-Biological Sciences_, _137_(889), 465-469.
3. Lewis, E. B. (1978). A gene complex controlling segmentation in Drosophila. _Nature_, _276_(5688), 565-570.
4. Müller, G. B. (2007). Evo–devo: extending the evolutionary synthesis. _Nature reviews genetics_, _8_(12), 943-949.
5. Peterson, T., & Müller, G. B. (2013). What is evolutionary novelty? Process versus character based definitions. _Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution_, _320_(6), 345-350.
6. https://thelostlambda.github.io/pokestats/#:~:text=The%20fastest%20Pok%C3%A9mon%20type%20is,type%20was%20the%20Rock%20type.
7. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/fire/
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

15. To Kill a Kilowattrel: Evolution of Flight
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
02/25/25 • 33 min
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the flying type. Our evolutionary connection to the flying type is the evolution of flight.
In the Safari Zone, I get into the evolution of flight in invertebrates and vertebrates using pokemon case studies. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about more diversity in flying type pokémon. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of a new pidgey variant and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Additional resources mentioned in this episode:
1. Elgin, R. A., Hone, D. W., & Frey, E. (2011). The extent of the pterosaur flight membrane. _Acta Palaeontologica Polonica_, _56_(1), 99-111.
2. Hunter, P. (2007). The nature of flight: the molecules and mechanics of flight in animals. _EMBO reports_, _8_(9), 811-813.
3. Iwamoto H, Nishikawa Y, Wakayama J, Fujisawa T (2002) Direct X-ray observation of a single hexagonal myofilament lattice in native myofibrils of striated muscle. Biophys J 83: 1074–1081
4. Iwamoto H, Inoue K, Yagi N (2006) Evolution of long-range myofibrillar crystallinity in insect flight muscle as examined by X-ray cryomicrodiffraction. Proc Biol Sci 273: 677–685
5. Sachs, G., Traugott, J., Nesterova, A. P., Dell'Omo, G., Kümmeth, F., Heidrich, W., ... & Bonadonna, F. (2012). Flying at no mechanical energy cost: disclosing the secret of wandering albatrosses.
6. Stalmaster, M. V., & Gessaman, J. A. (1984). Ecological energetics and foraging behavior of overwintering bald eagles. _Ecological Monographs_, _54_(4), 407-428.
7. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/flying/
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Bluesky and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

14. It Was A Pleasure to Forge: Urban Impacts on Evolution
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
02/11/25 • 34 min
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the steel type. Our evolutionary connection to the steel type is the impact of urbanization on evolution.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what current evolutionary pressures of cities are on organisms which are reflected in game and how humans (both in and outside of the Pokémon world) have benefited from looking to adaptations of the organisms around them. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about the need for urban pressures to impact pokemon evolution based on proximity to the cities if Pokémon are so route specific. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of Maushold and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Branciari, R., Franceschini, R., Roila, R., Valiani, A., Pecorelli, I., Piersanti, A., ... & Ranucci, D. (2020). Nutritional value and contaminant risk assessment of some commercially important fishes and crawfish of Lake Trasimeno, Italy. _International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health_, _17_(7), 2545.
2. Cook, L. M., & Saccheri, I. J. (2013). The peppered moth and industrial melanism: evolution of a natural selection case study. _Heredity_, _110_(3), 207-212.
3. Arbel Harpak, Nandita Garud, Noah A Rosenberg, Dmitri A Petrov, Matthew Combs, Pleuni S Pennings, Jason Munshi-South, Genetic Adaptation in New York City Rats, _Genome Biology and Evolution_, Volume 13, Issue 1, January 2021, evaa247, [https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaa247](https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaa247)
4. Holderegger, R., & Di Giulio, M. (2010). The genetic effects of roads: a review of empirical evidence. _Basic and Applied Ecology_, _11_(6), 522-531.
5. Marc T. J. Johnson, Jason Munshi-South ,Evolution of life in urban environments.Science358,eaam8327(2017).DOI:10.1126/science.aam8327
6. Nemeth, E., & Brumm, H. (2009). Blackbirds sing higher-pitched songs in cities: adaptation to habitat acoustics or side-effect of urbanization?. _Animal behaviour_, _78_(3), 637-641.
7. https://asknature.org/biological-strategies/
8. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/steel/
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

4. A Tale of Two Fishes: Biodiversity
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
09/24/24 • 45 min
Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the water type. Our evolutionary connection to the water type is biodiversity.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what biodiversity is, what a niche is, how niches form biodiversity, how biodiversity is quantified and explain these ideas using the safari zones as well as the shellos, magikarp, and feebas lines. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about how pokémon should not be restricted in movement once the post-game is reached. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the wailmer evolutionary line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Twitter and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Andermann T, Antonelli A, Barrett RL, Silvestro D. Estimating Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Diversity Through Deep Learning. Front Plant Sci. 2022 Apr 19;13:839407. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.839407. PMID: 35519811; PMCID: PMC9062518.
2. Tuomisto, H. (2010). A diversity of beta diversities: straightening up a concept gone awry. Part 1. Defining beta diversity as a function of alpha and gamma diversity. _Ecography_, _33_(1), 2-22.
3. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Great_Marsh
4. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hoenn_Safari_Zone
5. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Johto_Safari_Zone
6. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Kanto_Safari_Zone
7. https://pokejungle.net/2012/07/31/pokeologyfeebasmilotic/
8. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/water/
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Bluesky and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

2. Of Meowth and Men: Artificial Selection
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
08/27/24 • 40 min
Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the normal type. Our evolutionary connection to the normal type is artificial selection. In the Safari Zone, I get into examples of artificial selection with Zigzagoon and Meowth providing excellent case studies. During the pokémon professors rant I appropriately rant about how Furfrou was a terrible idea to show paegentry and Pidove was robbed. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of Budew with a Tyrogue like evolution chain and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Twitter and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Secord, J. A. (1981). Nature's fancy: Charles Darwin and the breeding of pigeons. _Isis_, _72_(2), 163-186.
2. Shapiro, B. (2017). Pathways to de‐extinction: how close can we get to resurrection of an extinct species?. _Functional Ecology_, _31_(5), 996-1002.
3. Sinding, M. H. S., & Gilbert, M. T. P. (2016). The draft genome of extinct European aurochs and its implications for de-extinction. _Open Quaternary_, _2_, 7-7.
4. Sol, D. (2008). Artificial selection, naturalization, and fitness: Darwin's pigeons revisited. _Biological Journal of the Linnean Society_, _93_(4), 657-665.
5. https://evolution.berkeley.edu/lines-of-evidence/artificial-selection/
6. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Artificial_Pok%C3%A9mon
7. https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemonconspiracies/comments/axagi7/the_galar_region_is_based_in_norse_and/
8. https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sm/052.shtml
9. https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-swsh/meowth/#
10.
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

13. I, Seviper: Evolution of Poison and Venom
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
01/28/25 • 37 min
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the poison type. Our evolutionary connection to the electric type is the evolution of venom and poison.
In the Safari Zone, I get into the difference between venom and poison, how so many groups have evolved venom/poison, and introduce the idea of evolutionary arms races with pokémon case studies lines. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about clarity around venom or poison in pokémon and how toxic should be the type and venom/poison type should only existing as a sub-typing. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of slowking and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Dickinson, C. C. (2019). The Curious Poisoned Weed: Poison Ivy Ecology and Physiology.
2. Espiritu, D. J. D., Watkins, M., Dia-Monje, V., Cartier, G. E., Cruz, L. J., & Olivera, B. M. (2001). Venomous cone snails: molecular phylogeny and the generation of toxin diversity. _Toxicon_, _39_(12), 1899-1916.
3. Gladman AC. Toxicodendron Dermatitis: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2006;17(2):120-128. doi:10.1580/PR31-05.1
4. Harris, R. J., & Arbuckle, K. (2016). Tempo and mode of the evolution of venom and poison in tetrapods. _Toxins_, _8_(7), 193.
5. Labadie, M., Aldabe, B., Ong, N., Joncquiert-Latarjet, A., Groult, V., Poulard, A., ... de Haro, L. (2012). Portuguese man-of-war (_Physalia physalis_) envenomation on the Aquitaine Coast of France: An emerging health risk. _Clinical Toxicology_, _50_(7), 567–570. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2012.707657
6. Mebs, D. (2001). Toxicity in animals. Trends in evolution?. _Toxicon_, _39_(1), 87-96.
7. Possani, L. D., Becerril, B., Delepierre, M., & Tytgat, J. (1999). Scorpion toxins specific for Na+‐channels. _European journal of biochemistry_, _264_(2), 287-300.
8. Undheim, E. A., & King, G. F. (2011). On the venom system of centipedes (Chilopoda), a neglected group of venomous animals. _Toxicon_, _57_(4), 512-524.
9. Vonk, F. J., Admiraal, J. F., Jackson, K., Reshef, R., de Bakker, M. A., Vanderschoot, K., ... & Richardson, M. K. (2008). Evolutionary origin and development of snake fangs. _Nature_, _454_(7204), 630-633.
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

5. Pride, Prejudice, Rats, and Cane toads: Competition
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
10/08/24 • 43 min
**CORRECTION**
I mention in the contest spectacular section that shiny zoaroark almost looks as if it would align with trans extremist radical feminists - this was a major mistake/misspeaking of my own. I meant to say Trans EXCLUSIONARY radical feminists of the J.K. Rowling variety. I apologize deeply for anybody who was offended by this mistake.
Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the dark type. Our evolutionary connection to the dark type is competition.
In the Safari Zone, I get into how competition is important for how we understand evolution, how sexual dimorphism likely fuels mate competition in the dark type as well as how some regional variants have evolved through the introduction of invasive species outcompeting native species. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about how the dark type should not be confused with evil personalities. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the bidoof evolutionary line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Twitter and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Baldwin, P. H., Schwartz, C. W., & Schwartz, E. R. (1952). Life history and economic status of the mongoose in Hawaii. _Journal of Mammalogy_, _33_(3), 335-356.
2. Callaway, E. Size doesn't always matter for peacocks. _Nature_ (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2011.245
3. Darwin, C. The Origin of The Species by Means of Natural Selection. 1859.
4. Darwin, C. The Descent of Man and Evolution in Relation to Sex. 1871.
5. Han, G., Mall
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

12. The Tynamo That Harnessed the Lateral Line: Evolutionary Physiology
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
01/14/25 • 32 min
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the electric type. Our evolutionary connection to the electric type is evolutionary physiology.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what physiology is, how it evolves, and how some of the systems that we see in real life have been used to generate pokémon lines. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about the need for a dowsing machine / pokeradar on water through electroreception. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of a platypus line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Garland, T., & Carter, P. A. (1994). Evolutionary physiology. _Annual review of physiology_, _56_(1), 579-621.
2. Greenwood, P. G., & Mariscal, R. N. (1984). The utilization of cnidarian nematocysts by aeolid nudibranchs: nematocyst maintenance and release in Spurilla. _Tissue and Cell_, _16_(5), 719-730.
3. Herring PJ, Munk O. The escal light gland of the deep-sea anglerfish Haplophryne mollis (Pisces: Ceratioidei) with observations on luminescence control. _Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom_. 1994;74(4):747-763. doi:10.1017/S0025315400090020
4. Lissmann, H. W. (1958). On the function and evolution of electric organs in fish. _Journal of experimental biology_, _35_(1), 156-191.
5. Noble, D., Jablonka, E., Joyner, M. J., Müller, G. B., & Omholt, S. W. (2014). Evolution evolves: physiology returns to centre stage. The Journal of physiology, 592(Pt 11), 2237.
6. Wägele, M., & Johnsen, G. (2001). Observations on the histology and photosynthetic performance of “solar-powered” opisthobranchs (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) containing symbiotic chloroplasts or zooxanthellae. _Organisms Diversity & Evolution_, _1_(3), 193-210.
7. Wernegreen, J. J. (2012). Endosymbiosis. _Current Biology_, _22_(14), R555-R561.
8. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/electric/
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen

7. Brave Mew World : Nature Vs. Nurture
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
11/05/24 • 47 min
Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the psychic type. Our evolutionary connection to the psychic type is nature Vs. nurture.
In the Safari Zone, I get into how mattpat (Game theorists) relied a bit too heavily on nature/nurture in explaining pokemon evolution in reference to eevee and then get into explaining the evolution of senses in a variety of psychic pokémon. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about the gradual weakening of the psychic typing over time. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the unown evolutionary line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Alhosin, M. (2023). Epigenetics Mechanisms of Honeybees: Secrets of Royal Jelly. _Epigenetics Insights_, _16_, 25168657231213717.
2. Hoover, K. C. (2010). Smell with inspiration: the evolutionary significance of olfaction. _American Journal of Physical Anthropology_, _143_(S51), 63-74.
3. Jones, G., & Teeling, E. C. (2006). The evolution of echolocation in bats. _Trends in Ecology & Evolution_, _21_(3), 149-156.
4. Osório, J., & Rétaux, S. (2008). The lamprey in evolutionary studies. _Development genes and evolution_, _218_, 221-235.
5. Schwab, I. The evolution of eyes: major steps. The Keeler lecture 2017: centenary of Keeler Ltd. _Eye_ **32**, 302–313 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2017.226
7. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/History_of_the_Pok%C3%A9mon_world
8. ht
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
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How many episodes does Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture have?
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture currently has 20 episodes available.
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The podcast is about Evolution, Culture, Life Sciences, Ecology, Society, Nature, Podcasts, Movies, Science, Video Games, Tv and Biology.
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The episode title 'Adapt or Die! - The Trailer' is the most popular.
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The average episode length on Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture is 35 minutes.
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Episodes of Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture are typically released every 14 days.
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The first episode of Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture was released on Jul 31, 2024.
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