5. Pride, Prejudice, Rats, and Cane toads: Competition

Adapt or Die! The Evolutionary Biology of Pop Culture

**CORRECTION**
I mention in the contest spectacular section that shiny zoaroark almost looks as if it would align with trans extremist radical feminists - this was a major mistake/misspeaking of my own. I meant to say Trans EXCLUSIONARY radical feminists of the J.K. Rowling variety. I apologize deeply for anybody who was offended by this mistake.
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 dark type. Our evolutionary connection to the dark type is competition.
In the Safari Zone, I get into how competition is important for how we understand evolution, how sexual dimorphism likely fuels mate competition in the dark type as well as how some regional variants have evolved through the introduction of invasive species outcompeting native species. During the pokémon professors rant, I appropriately rant about how the dark type should not be confused with evil personalities. Lastly, we will end todays episode with describing a regional variant of the bidoof 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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Song credits: Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Logo design: Austin Ashbaugh, Chase Ashbaugh, Xander Allen
Resources cited for research in this episode:
1. Baldwin, P. H., Schwartz, C. W., & Schwartz, E. R. (1952). Life history and economic status of the mongoose in Hawaii. _Journal of Mammalogy_, _33_(3), 335-356.
2. Callaway, E. Size doesn't always matter for peacocks. _Nature_ (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2011.245
3. Darwin, C. The Origin of The Species by Means of Natural Selection. 1859.
4. Darwin, C. The Descent of Man and Evolution in Relation to Sex. 1871.
5. Han, G., Mallon, J. C., Lussier, A. J., Wu, X. C., Mitchell, R., & Li, L. J. (2023). An extraordinary fossil captures the struggle for existence during the Mesozoic. _Scientific Reports_, _13_(1), 11221.
6. Hughes, R. N., Hughes, D. J., & Smith, I. P. (2014). Limits to understanding and managing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.). _Oceanography and marine biology: an annual review_, _52_, 133-200.
7. Loyau, A., Jalme, M. S., & Sorci, G. (2005). Intra‐and intersexual selection for multiple traits in the peacock (Pavo cristatus). _Ethology_, _111_(9), 810-820.
8. Shine, R. (2010). The ecological impact of invasive cane toads (Bufo marinus) in Australia. _The Quarterly review of biology_, _85_(3), 253-291.
9. West-Eberhard, M. J. (1979). Sexual selection, social competition, and evolution. _Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society_, _123_(4), 222-234.
10. https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Po

Capitole

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Safari Zone: Sexual Competition + Invasive species (00:01:10)

3. Professors Rant: Dark does not mean evil (00:25:20)

4. A Wild Pokémon appeared!: Bidoof regional variant (00:32:15)