“Take the case of a carnivorous quadruped, of which the number that can be supported in any country has long ago arrived at its full average.”
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, Chapter 4
Was Darwin right? Why, when Australia is widely populated with large docile herbivores, is the dingo its best attempt at a meat-eater; and then it is as much a scavenger as a carnivore. How come evolution didn’t move into the obvious ecological niche before man arrived? What is so special about Australia habitats that when, for instance, the rabbit was introduced, it ran out of control for want of a decent predator?
Thought experiment: Try to imagine what would transpire if a viable population of lions (or other large cat) were introduced into the outback.
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I think Darwin's retort might be that, if lions were to be introduced, the number that can be supported would very soon arrive at its full average.
ReplyDeleteHe's working with a twist on malthus, trying to point out that there will always be competition and that competition drives selection, rather than that evolution will always chance upon a killer adaptation. The quote is divorced from the context, however, so tell us more!
(Also, it strikes me that this blog might be a good opportunities to commit some of your stories to posterity. Is it true, Trevor, is it true that the Germans burned your house to the ground? Is it true you were almost a spy? Is it true, Trevor, is it true?)