Climate Change and Species Movement
Climate change is forcing animals to migrate to survive.
When they move, they often cross invisible ecosystem borders, facing new threats.
Some species adapt quietly, but others become invasive, disrupting local wildlife.
Native species must either adapt quickly or face extinction.
The Cricket vs. Fly Case in Hawaii
Hawaiian crickets were hunted by an invasive fly (Ormia ochracea) that found them by their mating songs.
Crickets evolved a silent mutation — males stopped making sounds to avoid detection.
Later, some crickets evolved new, quieter songs (purrs and rattles) to attract females but stay hidden from flies.
This showed rapid evolution in response to a threat.
Flies Adapt Too
Scientists found that the flies also evolved — they now hear a broader range of sounds, including the new cricket songs.
Flies still find the crickets, despite their efforts to stay hidden.
This is not a slow back-and-forth evolution but a sudden, broad change in the flies’ abilities.
Female crickets also lowered their standards, accepting the new songs, which helped the mutated males survive.
The Bigger Picture: Evolution, Risks, and Survival
Species that reproduce quickly, like insects, can evolve faster.
But insect populations are dropping — their extinction rate is 8x higher than birds or mammals.
Short disruptions, like bad weather, can cause insect population collapses.
Scientists now study genetics to predict which species may adapt or perish.
Understanding rapid evolution is key to predicting survival in a changing world.
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