Hiel
11-03-2004, 08:31 AM
Allen and Bergmans' rule basically states that cold adapted groups, further away from the tropics will be shorter and stockier.
Yet in reality, this is not the case with many arctic fauna-the majority of large arctic fauna in fact have legs and necks of a decent length.
If a compact, stocky object remains stationary in a freezer, it losses heat more slowly than other objects. But survival in 'the real world' is more complex than measuring heat loss in freezers-the added mobility of longer limbs seems to have been positively selected for. It's not as simple as being stocky.
Allen and Bergmans' rule is applied simplistically.
Yet in reality, this is not the case with many arctic fauna-the majority of large arctic fauna in fact have legs and necks of a decent length.
If a compact, stocky object remains stationary in a freezer, it losses heat more slowly than other objects. But survival in 'the real world' is more complex than measuring heat loss in freezers-the added mobility of longer limbs seems to have been positively selected for. It's not as simple as being stocky.
Allen and Bergmans' rule is applied simplistically.