• Telorand@reddthat.com
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    5 months ago

    Or some of their progeny will adapt to the climate-related selection pressures.

    Whether that happens in time to avoid a mass extinction event remains to be seen.

    • huginn
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      5 months ago

      They do have a lot of them and have a 1yr reproduction cycle. That’s a lot better than other marine life.

      They’re more likely to adapt than, say, tuna.

      Doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee but it’s better odds.

      • Telorand@reddthat.com
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        5 months ago

        I wonder if octopi will gain shorter gestation cycles or increased number of offspring. I just learned recently that those are common adaptations for organisms with higher selection pressures (like mice and insects).

        • huginn
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          5 months ago

          They’re already very short with plentiful offspring. They have what’s known as an “R-Type” reproductive strategy.

          It’s possible that accelerates but it’s also possible that a successful adaptation has longer gestation cycles. It’s not really something you can easily predict.