"Survival of the fittest" disputed

[AnInconvenientScotsman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11063939

To summarise, a PhD student from Bristol University has published an article detailing how biodiversity varies directly with 'living space'; then, they have interpreted this as meaning that the availability of habitat and food is the primary driving force of evolution - not 'survival of the fittest'.

Would this not support what we already know, though? Why would species die out from lack of space or food? Because they can't compete with the other species occupying that space or the species that they share a food source with, I'm sure. Thoughts?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"Publish or perish" leads to much quibbling.

[Elessarina]

Would this not support what we already know, though? Why would species die out from lack of space or food? Because they can't compete with the other species occupying that space or the species that they share a food source with, I'm sure. Thoughts?

I agree.. although why can't both apply...if you have space you exploit the space if you don't have space then it's a case of adapting to circumstances..

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Would this not support what we already know, though? Why would species die out from lack of space or food? Because they can't compete with the other species occupying that space or the species that they share a food source with, I'm sure. Thoughts?

I agree.. although why can't both apply...if you have space you exploit the space if you don't have space then it's a case of adapting to circumstances..

Papers like that are dedicated to monocausality. The author thinks up something and then claims it's the "one true way." This gives others the chance to publish to say "No, it's not." Then the original author can come back and say "Yes, it IS!". Everybody gets to publish, and keep their job.

[Pappa]

First define fitness.

[Feck]

Would this not support what we already know, though? Why would species die out from lack of space or food? Because they can't compete with the other species occupying that space or the species that they share a food source with, I'm sure. Thoughts?

I agree.. although why can't both apply...if you have space you exploit the space if you don't have space then it's a case of adapting to circumstances..

Yes a species survives because it is able to flourish in the biological niche it finds it'self in ...a new enviroment just changes the selection pressures.
It's still survival of the fittest I don't understand what he is trying to say .

[Elessarina]

Papers like that are dedicated to monocausality. The author thinks up something and then claims it's the "one true way." This gives others the chance to publish to say "No, it's not." Then the original author can come back and say "Yes, it IS!". Everybody gets to publish, and keep their job.

Oh yes I appreciate that - I wasn't ansering the claim/paper.. just voicing my thoughts...

[Eriku]

Surely the survival of the fittest implies that there is competition over the resources in the habitat? If no conflict arises, then obviously other factors will be the main driving force... And where conflicts arise you can be pretty sure that if only one species survives, that species was the fittest. Unless artifical selection intervened, of course.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

First define fitness.

I prefer "Fit to survive" over survival of the fittest. Many less than "fittest" survive each generation.

[Robert_S]

First define fitness.

I prefer "Fit to survive" over survival of the fittest. Many less than "fittest" survive each generation.

I prefer to think of it as whoever fits best in a particular part of the environment, or whoever is better at making the environment fit them.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

First define fitness.

I prefer "Fit to survive" over survival of the fittest. Many less than "fittest" survive each generation.

I prefer to think of it as whoever fits best in a particular part of the environment, or whoever is better at making the environment fit them.

That's what I said.

[Mysturji]

First define fitness.

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

Works for me.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

First define fitness.

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

Works for me.

See you and raise you.

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

[Robert_S]

First define fitness.

I prefer "Fit to survive" over survival of the fittest. Many less than "fittest" survive each generation.

I prefer to think of it as whoever fits best in a particular part of the environment, or whoever is better at making the environment fit them.

That's what I said.

Pretty much, but I stated it differently.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

First define fitness.

I prefer "Fit to survive" over survival of the fittest. Many less than "fittest" survive each generation.

I prefer to think of it as whoever fits best in a particular part of the environment, or whoever is better at making the environment fit them.

That's what I said.

Pretty much, but I stated it differently.

I terse