Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
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.
Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture
16. The Meta(pod)morphosis: Evolution of Insects
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 bug type. Our evolutionary connection to the bug type is the evolution of insects.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what defines an insect and will review the representation of all the major insect orders in the pokémon games. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about more diversity in bug type pokémon. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a new water bug type lineage 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. Aguiar, A.P.; Deans, A.R.; Engel, M.S.; Forshage, M.; Huber, J.T.; Jennings, J.T.; Johnson, N.F.; Lelej, A.S.; Longino, J.T.; Lohrmann, V.; Mikó, I.; Ohl, M.; Rasmussen, C.; Taeger, A.; Yu, D.S.K. (2013).
2. Edgecombe, G. D., & Giribet, G. (2007). Evolutionary biology of centipedes (Myriapoda: Chilopoda). _Annu. Rev. Entomol._, _52_(1), 151-170.
3. Forero, D. (2008). The systematics of the Hemiptera. Revista Colombiana de Entomología, _34_(1), 1-21.
4. D. Grimaldi; M. S. Engel (2005). _Evolution of the Insects_.
5. Hoell, H.V., Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). _Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed_. Oxford University Press. pp. 392–394.
6. Legendre, Frédéric; Nel, André; Svenson, Gavin J.; Robillard, Tony; Pellens, Roseli; Grandcolas, Philippe; Escriva, Hector (22 July 2015). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4511787). _PLOS ONE_. 10 (7): e0130127.
7. Piersanti, S., Frati, F., Conti, E., Gaino, E., Rebora, M., & Salerno, G. (2014). First evidence of the use of olfaction in Odonata behaviour. _Journal of Insect Physiology_, _62_, 26-31.
8. Richter, S., Møller, O., & Wirkner, C. (2009). Advances in crustacean phylogenetics. _Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny_, _67_, 275-286.
9. Ruebenstahl A, Mongiardino Koch N, Lamsdell JC, Briggs DEG. 2024 Convergent evolution of giant size in eurypterids. Proc. R. Soc. B 291: 20241184.
10. Schmidt‐Rhaesa, A., Bartolomaeus, T., Lemburg, C., Ehlers, U., & Garey, J. R. (1998). The position of the Arthropoda in the phylogenetic system. _Journal of Morphology_, _238_(3), 263-285.
11. Scholtz, G., & Edgecombe, G. D. (2005). Heads, Hox and the phylogenetic position of trilobites. _Crustacea and arthropod relationships_, _16_, 139-165.
12. Tihelka, E., Cai, C., Giacomelli, M., Lozano-Fernandez, J., Rota-Stabelli, O., Huang, D., ... & Pisani, D. (2021). The evolution of insect biodiversity. _Current Biology_, _31_(19), R1299-R1311.
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Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
