4. A Tale of Two Fishes: Biodiversity

09/24/24 • 45 min

Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture

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

Previous Episode

3. The Last of Us - Paras edition: Coevolution

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 grass type. Our evolutionary connection to the normal type is coevolution.
In the Safari Zone, I get into how symbiotic relationships evolve with a few different grass type case studies. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about how we need more coevolution informed evolution lines. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the croagunk and morelull evolutionary lines 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. Alexandersson, R., & Johnson, S. D. (2002). Pollinator–mediated selection on flower–tube length in a hawkmoth–pollinated Gladiolus (Iridaceae). _Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences_, _269_(1491), 631-636
2. Bush, G. L. (1992). Host race formation and sympatric speciation in Rhagoletis fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). _Psyche: A Journal of Entomology_, _99_(4), 335-357.
3. Cartaxana, P., Morelli, L., Cassin, E., Havurinne, V., Cabral, M., & Cruz, S. (2023). Prey species and abundance affect growth and photosynthetic performance of the polyphagous sea slug Elysia crispata. _Royal Society Open Science_, _10_(8), 230810.
4. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/User:PardescanSlowbro/Symbiotic_Relationships
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/red-queen-hypothesis
6. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/grass/

Next Episode

5. Pride, Prejudice, Rats, and Cane toads: Competition

**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