Survival of the Laziest

From the Science Daily:

Date: August 22, 2018
Source: University of Kansas
Summary: A new large-data study of bivalves and gastropods in the Atlantic Ocean suggests laziness might be a fruitful strategy for survival of individuals, species and even communities of species.

"The results have just been published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B by a research team based at the University of Kansas".

From that same news page, was a quote below:

"If you've got an unemployed, 30-year-old adult child still living in the basement, fear not".

"Maybe in the long term the best evolutionary strategy for animals is to be lassitudinous and sluggish -- the lower the metabolic rate, the more likely the species you belong to will survive," Lieberman said. "Instead of 'survival of the fittest,' maybe a better metaphor for the history of life is 'survival of the laziest' or at least 'survival of the sluggish."

I can't help copying those quotes because, for one thing, we now know there is such a word as, "lassitudinous" (lacking in energy or a case of mental inertness).

Taxpayers via government grants actually paid good money for this study!

Let's give these scientists the benefit of the doubt, shall we? I'm sure it requires dedication and lots of waking hours to study clams and oysters.  However, upon reading the study, I formed my own conclusions. While this is not  part of the study - purely a case of pure unadulterated speculation on my part - I conclude that we are the enablers of laziness among these gastropods, which is the reason for their eternal survival  in the modern era. Granted, they did make it for eons and eons of time to get here, but we now have sealed the deal for their survival. Let me explain.

Take the oysters. A pearl is produced because some debris, like sand or very tiny piece of rock gets lodged into the oyster's mantle (that's the part that produces nacre that makes the oyster's shell). The foreign debris acts as an irritant and the mantle keeps producing nacre that envelopes the irritant, but it keeps doing that for its entire life. All of this nacre was wasted when it could have been used to build up its shell. The oyster was too lazy to put an effort to remove the irritant in the first place. It took the easy way out. Or, did it? The oyster has a plan. All the entire species had to do was make sure that every now and then one of them produces a pearl for the benefit of the pearl divers. That is the con game they have successfully perpetrated.  Oysters spawn to reproduce and they do it in huge numbers to insure that a handful of larvae survive predation and other natural erasers of life. Humans begun cultivating and culturing pearl farms. Immediately, oysters don't have to worry about extinction because more of their larvae not only survive, they are being cared for. Their survival is assured by the clamor for pearls and for the insatiable appetite for oysters on a half shell. One can argue that being served with slices of lemon by the dozens at some swanky restaurant is not exactly a survival strategy.  For the species, it is. By the way, oysters get to reach full maturity before being harvested, beyond which their demise will naturally occur anyhow. 

We can also say the same thing with cattle. As you watch them appear like statues at a distance over lush green pastures, think of their cousins' annual 2,000-mile-round-trip migration back and forth across the Serengeti, where thousands of them are sacrificed to crocodiles, lions and hyenas, so that the entire species can survive.  Domesticated cattle are free to eat without fear of predators, they get free health care, and their prenatal supervision by veterinarians are top notch. Again, it is about the species surviving, because we need them more than they need us. But the biggest con game is the one successfully put on by cats and dogs. (in the first world, at least). More so with cats. At least, dogs do show unabashed fondness for their masters (more rationally, their feeders). Cats, if you do notice, don't even pretend. That is just simply so beneath their nature to wag their tails and get so excited over every little thing.

I admit I went too far there.  I love dogs and I admire cats. It's not their fault but ours. But trust me, we did not domesticate them. They domesticated themselves so we can care for them - all for the survival of their species.

Don't take everything I said seriously because I don't have a doctorate in biology or animal husbandry.

But I observe. The laboratory is our backyard. Everyday, I observe true survival events happening.  I submit a photo essay which were all taken from our backyard - not exactly the Amazon rain forest but creatures do their thing every day whether we are there or not. The captions tell the story.

This magnificent raptor feels at home in the neighborhood, the roof over our garage or the rim of the trashcan.  It is up to something.

I have, of course, become one of millions of enablers in backyards and parks across the country. These sparrows enjoy like very few do - they eat white grains of rice (raw or cooked).These birds had trained me well. They would actually  come to the window sill and look in, wondering why their feeder is empty. They know how to make you feel guilty.

 They have also develop a taste for stale bread. I should be guilty of that as well, but no reports to PETA, please.

Where else can they find food where nearby is an oasis-relief from the Texas hot summer.  This bird knows just how to dip its entire head and live to chirp its story. Two hapless ones did not do so well in the past. One drowned, another I was able to rescue in time. It is supposed to be survival of the fittest but I am guilty as charged with tinkering with nature, again.

But these sparrows cannot be too careful. They are weary, they are watchful because ...

This hawk is after the careless sparrow caught unaware. The sparrows have a great exit though. They go into the interior of the nearby bush, leaving the hawk frustrated and disappointed.

But this predator is persistent .

I saw it go after squirrels too but I did not witness one successful hunt, but I know it must make a good living because it had been around for much of the year now. So, even with a low success rate, it is surviving with local prey, for sure.

These guys here used to be, I'm told, migratory fowls. It is obvious now that they they've decided to stake permanent roots . Mom and dad birds are raising their two ducklings (shouldn't there be more?) somewhere in between our house and the next door neighbor's. They were weary but I got close enough to take the pictures.

Not far from where the birds are feasting (note the potted pineapple plant in the earlier photo), one creature first contemplated, then ...

Caught in the act !

I elevated those pots later, but it discovered there were more on the ground. A small plot of pineapple plants that took me several cuttings from fresh pineapple were laid to waste.

But what can I say ... I too got suckered into liking this lovable creature. Of course, that is not without manipulation by this guy, by allowing me to get closer for this photo.  With that face, how can we get mad?

These creatures are surviving for not being lazy. They work hard but they are, in a way, outsmarting us by targeting the softest of our softest parts - our love and fascination for wildlife and they know that in our backyards they are safe and well fed.