Re: Brain development.

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Surely a niche is a certain size.

If more than one species developed an advantageous asset that would enable
them to occupy the *same* niche then they could fill the niche until the
system could no longer support their similar activity. It would be then that
subtle advantages would enable one species to survive and the other to become
extinct.

Is this not the case for early hominids with Modern Man as the result?

What made other less intelligent hominid species less advantageous and
ultimately extinct?

I can see that the argument is very difficult re niches and assets.

Are there any examples in other species where an asset does not occupy a
niche? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

On Thu, 2 Feb 1995, JOHN LANGDON wrote:

> In message Steve Nicholas writes:
> > Is it possible that the 'intelligence' niche had never been filled
> > evolutionally thus paving the way for a very rapid filling of that
> > niche? Is that the way it goes?
>
> This is dangerously close to the fallicy of the single species hypothesis that
> regarded "culture" as an ecological niche. If intelligence is a niche, how can
> you explain the coexistence of multiple species of hominids at different stages
> of brain expansion? I think your "asset" description is better.
>
> JOHN H. LANGDON email LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU
> DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY FAX (317) 788-3569
> UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS PHONE (317) 788-3447
> INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227
>
>

--

Steve Nicholas

Western Geophysical, Manton Lane, BEDFORD, Beds., MK42 7PA, UK.

Steve.Nicholas@wg.waii.com | Phone +44 1234 224411 | Fax +44 1234 224507

--

"Life may have no meaning -- or even worse, it may have a meaning of

which I disapprove."






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