4. A Tale of Two Fishes: Biodiversity

Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture

Episode Description:
Welcome to this brand new episode of Adapt or Die! The evolutionary biology of pop culture hosted by Austin Ashbaugh. The current cultural phenomenon we are discussing this season is Pokémon and todays episode is focused on the water type. Our evolutionary connection to the water type is biodiversity.
In the Safari Zone, I get into what biodiversity is, what a niche is, how niches form biodiversity, how biodiversity is quantified and explain these ideas using the safari zones as well as the shellos, magikarp, and feebas lines. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about how pokémon should not be restricted in movement once the post-game is reached. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the wailmer evolutionary line and results from our latest pokémon spectacular competition. Sit back and relax in a chair older than yourself, open an old dusty tome, and join me as we adapt or die!
Link to Google Slides of Pokémon discussed in this episode
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Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Andermann T, Antonelli A, Barrett RL, Silvestro D. Estimating Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Diversity Through Deep Learning. Front Plant Sci. 2022 Apr 19;13:839407. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.839407. PMID: 35519811; PMCID: PMC9062518.
2. Tuomisto, H. (2010). A diversity of beta diversities: straightening up a concept gone awry. Part 1. Defining beta diversity as a function of alpha and gamma diversity. _Ecography_, _33_(1), 2-22.
3. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Great_Marsh
4. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hoenn_Safari_Zone
5. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Johto_Safari_Zone
6. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Kanto_Safari_Zone
7. https://pokejungle.net/2012/07/31/pokeologyfeebasmilotic/
8. https://www.serebii.net/pokemon/type/water/

Follow Adapt or Die! on Instagram for regular updates
Follow Austin on Bluesky and Instagram
Have a pop culture ecology or evolutionary biology question you want answered? Submit your questions and ideas here for a chance to have your topic researched and discussed on the podcast!
Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen