Scientists continue to work on evolution. A recent study has attracted great attention by revealing the importance of sociality in evolution. What made this research possible was 3D scanning technologies.
Researchers have examined the remains of mammals, some of which are extinct and some of which continue, revealing that there is a direct correlation between the speed of evolution and sociality. It turns out that the evolution of species that are social is faster.
Loneliness is an obstacle to evolution
Professor of the Natural History Museum. In the study carried out by a team led by Anjali Goswami, the skull structures of 322 specimens were examined. Thus, it was possible to determine the rate of emergence of various ecological niche variations called adaptive radiation.
After the extinction of the dinosaurs, the mammalian species began to grow rapidly. When mammals, the largest of which was the size of a small dog, were suddenly freed from the pressure of dinosaurs, there was a genetic explosion and species diversified. According to new research, evolutionary diversification slowed considerably after this explosion. As another point of interest, the skull evolutions of creatures other than rodents and whales took place in similar ways.
Researchers also focused their work on skulls to study how species respond to environmental changes. They also succeeded in demonstrating that the environment, social behaviors, diets, social behaviors, parental care and time of activity played an important role in the evolution of the creatures to which these remains belonged.
According to the research, evolution is slower in individuals of species that need care. On the other hand, the evolution of social creatures is faster. This sociability does not mean crowded in numbers, but refers to groups of individuals interacting with each other. The evolution of species whose daily activities are known is also different from that of more liberal specimens.
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