It would seem the design that can survive the most extinctions would be the clear winner in the end.

  • intensely_human
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    9 months ago

    The thing about coastal areas is they’ll always be a part of Earth’s biosphere. Unlike plains or deserts or deciduous forests, which don’t have to exist, and can completely disappear, coastlines and estuaries can only move, never disappear.

    • Fluke@discuss.online
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      9 months ago

      This is a cool point. I’ve never thought about that before. It’s a very stable environment allowing for efficiency to be selected for in ways that may decrease adaptability.

    • fishos@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      A coastline absolutely can vanish(submerged) or be against geography, such as rocky cliffs, that is unsuitable. “Coastlines can’t stop existing, only move” is semantic nonesense.

      EDIT: for ya downvoters, where’s the coastline on an island that vanishes due to rising sea levels? The Marshall Islands have a max elevation of ~7’ and are already having issues with rising sea levels. When the sea rises above them, where does their coastal ecosystem go?

      • intensely_human
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        9 months ago

        You’re right, a beach can be replaced by cliffs that a crocodile wouldn’t be able to make use of. That’s a good point.