tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post3021409338970414706..comments2023-12-24T07:02:43.274+08:00Comments on Catalogue of Organisms: It's Not What You ThinkChristopher Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11075565866351612441noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-80314079068897456382009-07-23T15:49:47.566+08:002009-07-23T15:49:47.566+08:00Süßwassertang just grows continually in its normal...<i>Süßwassertang just grows continually in its normal way and will only multiply if mechanically divided. I'm wondering if that has different implications for the long-term persistence of this form.</i><br /><br />I don't think that's a problem if mechanical disturbances are common. That would basically mean that this is an asexual lineage. What makes it weird, is that it's the haploid phase that has started its own show. I think that makes it more vulnerable to Muller's ratchet (because it expresses all mutations), and that would mean this is an evolutionary dead end.<br />Alas, this is all speculation, of course.Corneelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884855837357720225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-64104129588440307142009-07-23T11:35:29.353+08:002009-07-23T11:35:29.353+08:00What do you mean, "recently"?What do you mean, "recently"?Christopher Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11075565866351612441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-19844826151153097232009-07-23T10:57:06.143+08:002009-07-23T10:57:06.143+08:00Umm...is it me, or have you made a turn for the ph...Umm...is it me, or have you made a turn for the phyto- and arthropodo- pornographica recently?<br /><br />:D <br /><br />I couldn't resist...SteveEDhttp://www.zoxesyrbautie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-37549349728676852172009-07-23T10:06:02.845+08:002009-07-23T10:06:02.845+08:00Corneel: Entirely possible, I suppose. I really do...Corneel: Entirely possible, I suppose. I really don't know what governs successful reproduction in ferns.<br /><br />Jim: I don't think "paedomorphosis" (well done for correcting your spelling :-P ) is the right term. The gametophyte isn't an earlier stage in the growth of the sporophyte, it's an entirely separate individual.<br /><br />Offhand, the Süßwassertang is a little different from other independent gametophytes in that it doesn't produce gemmae (asexually produced offshoots that break off to become new individuals, like the "chickens" on a hen-and-chickens fern). Rather, Süßwassertang just grows continually in its normal way and will only multiply if mechanically divided. I'm wondering if that has different implications for the long-term persistence of this form.Christopher Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11075565866351612441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-69305983893503394332009-07-22T22:19:45.586+08:002009-07-22T22:19:45.586+08:00Just wanted to second what Corneel said. I wonder...Just wanted to second what Corneel said. I wonder if this is a sort of pedomorphosis (sorry - paedomorphosis)?Jim Lemirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000051293978203511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460788270738656369.post-37191535508138457332009-07-22T15:33:26.081+08:002009-07-22T15:33:26.081+08:00That is facinating. Is it possible that it has tot...That is facinating. Is it possible that it has totally lost its ability to produce sporophytes? After all, it seems awfully easy to propagate it vegetatively.Corneelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884855837357720225noreply@blogger.com