Tag: Evolution

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that the evolution of camouflage patterns in stick insects follows a predictable pattern, challenging the long-held belief that evolution is a haphazard process. The study, led by evolutionary biologist Patrik Nosil from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, examined 30 years of data on Timema cristinae stick insects. Nosil and his team focused on the camouflage traits of these insects, which are essential for their survival as they blend into their environment to avoid predators. The study, conducted along roadsides in the mountains near Santa Barbara, California, involved netting and cataloging over 32,000 insects. The researchers found that in all 10 geographically separated populations, the frequency of green an...