" We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged." - Dissent from Darwin

Natural selection [is used] carelessly as a mantra, as in the evidence-free “just-so stories” concocted out of thin air by mentally lazy adaptationists. (Stephen Jay Gould)

In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence. (Isaac newton)

Thursday, February 19, 2009

How BEETLE got thirsty

A new study reports that seed beetles may be seeking out intimate moments not to increase their chances of becoming fertilized, but for hydration. "We were curious about the behavior of these females—males are known to inflict damage during mating, and yet the females keep going back for more," said study lead author Claudia Ursprung.

We wanted to find out whether females were getting food or drinks from the ejaculated fluid," said Ursprung, whose research appears in a recent issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Ursprung and her colleagues kept 79 female seed beetles in enclosures for eight days. Some were given food and water, some just food, and some just water. In the absence of water but not food, females were much more likely to try breeding. Being given water, however, left the females with little appetite for sex.

The beetles probably evolved this bizarre tactic because the species lives in a dry environment, the researchers suspect. "It is kind of like a bribe for mating, a way of ensuring that the female will produce offspring," said co-author Darryl Gwynne, also at the University of Toronto.

Storyteller: Claudia Ursprung of the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Source: Love Thirsty Beetles

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I must say I find this site ridiculous in its purpose - the "stories" you publish here and the underlying research are not viewed in the scientific community as "the answers" - just hypotheses. If the answer is "God did it" there is no point in asking the question. It is obvious from the framework of your blog that you don't understand the process of scientific investigation.