Article: Evolutionary Processes

After reading the article Critical Role of Evolutionary Processes In Species Coexistence and Diversity Revealed, I found the study that the scientists were conducting with phylogenetics very interesting. By beginning to understand and combine both ecological and evolutionary findings, scientists are now able to understand the complexities of exactly how evolution has effected the development of community organization, how species interact, and the role of diversity maintenance in these populations. As the article states, the new combination of experimentation using DNA and phylogenetics, many new findings are being sifted connecting these two fields. In relation to zoology, this is also a significant impact. Not only are the scientists going to be able to interpret all these different findings; they will also be able to understand how, for example, animal communities developed and maintained due to causes in evolution. I thought it was interesting that this evidence has shown that community structure can influence the diversification of a species. So at a zoological aspect, it would be exciting to discover exactly how certain animals evolved into the way they are based on how their community systems, like meerkats, ants, or bees, became organized. I also thought it was interesting that in the article, it stated that this research would help to manage and restore the flora and fauna species of the Earth. We as humans have caused many species to go into endangerment or near extinction; if this finding is true, it would be wonderful to reverse the actions we have caused over our own role on our planet.