I’m a part-time postdoc and Mum to Moana, born in Feb 2010. My research interests span evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, immunology and a bit of developmental biology. This blog is about recent research in biology, particularly (but not always) that published by New Zealand scientists. As I like to write about things I actually understand, I mostly blog about evolutionary biology, genetics, molecular biology and ecological matters. Its also a place where I collect fun multimedia stuff that simplifies science and/or celebrates the natural environment in an entertaining way.
Note: The views expressed on this blog are my own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Victoria University of Wellington or the Allan Wilson Centre.The chicken or the egg
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Hi, when I visited Te Papa I either read or was told that moa likely evolved the behavioral trait of standing completely still when scared because eagles’ eyes are exquisitely sensitive at detecting movement. Are you aware of any evidence that this is true?
I hadn’t heard that one before! It may be true, but it sounds like one of those evolutionary “just-so” stories to me. I don’t know of any evidence, and I don’t know how you would test whether its true, given both species are extinct.