Comments on: DNA in the Dirt Reveals the Number and Species of Animals in the Area http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/26/dna-in-the-dirt-reveals-the-number-and-species-of-animals-in-the-area/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: John Kwok http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/26/dna-in-the-dirt-reveals-the-number-and-species-of-animals-in-the-area/#comment-29613 John Kwok Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:29:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=32044#comment-29613 @ Geack - I wouldn't discount traditional means of estimating species diversity and population sizes yet. There are the potential - and most likely, probable - issues of underestimating species diversity with regards to relatively rare (or small) taxa like insects and of time-averaging effects as I noted earlier. @ Geack -

I wouldn’t discount traditional means of estimating species diversity and population sizes yet. There are the potential – and most likely, probable – issues of underestimating species diversity with regards to relatively rare (or small) taxa like insects and of time-averaging effects as I noted earlier.

]]> By: Geack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/26/dna-in-the-dirt-reveals-the-number-and-species-of-animals-in-the-area/#comment-29612 Geack Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:33:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=32044#comment-29612 I'm struck by the fact that large-scale DNA analysis has apparently become more convenient (and presumably cost-effective) than plain ol' field work. It's gonna be an interesting next couple of decades. I’m struck by the fact that large-scale DNA analysis has apparently become more convenient (and presumably cost-effective) than plain ol’ field work. It’s gonna be an interesting next couple of decades.

]]> By: John Kwok http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/26/dna-in-the-dirt-reveals-the-number-and-species-of-animals-in-the-area/#comment-29611 John Kwok Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=32044#comment-29611 Am not surprised to see Pat Shipman commenting here since she's one of our foremost vertebrate taphonomists. While I am intrigued with this, I have to wonder just how biased such samples might be due to time averaging effects, which the lead author of the paper did acknowledge in the Nature news article (reposted over at the Scientific American website). Needlessly to say that is an issue which paleontologists and paleobiologists have had to deal with especially with regards to describing the relative tempo of evolutionary change as seen from stratigraphic columns. It isn't clear to me how this methodology would address any potential temporal biases in inferring species diversity and abundance given that DNA molecules from certain species will be longer lived than others. Am not surprised to see Pat Shipman commenting here since she’s one of our foremost vertebrate taphonomists. While I am intrigued with this, I have to wonder just how biased such samples might be due to time averaging effects, which the lead author of the paper did acknowledge in the Nature news article (reposted over at the Scientific American website). Needlessly to say that is an issue which paleontologists and paleobiologists have had to deal with especially with regards to describing the relative tempo of evolutionary change as seen from stratigraphic columns. It isn’t clear to me how this methodology would address any potential temporal biases in inferring species diversity and abundance given that DNA molecules from certain species will be longer lived than others.

]]> By: Pat Shipman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/26/dna-in-the-dirt-reveals-the-number-and-species-of-animals-in-the-area/#comment-29609 Pat Shipman Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:42:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=32044#comment-29609 Did they find any animals they did not expect to find? Would this technique reveal the presence of rare or uncommon animals -- or animals expanding their ranges into a new territory? Or would it be helpful in getting a species list of animals in areas that are not protected parks? Did they find any animals they did not expect to find? Would this technique reveal the presence of rare or uncommon animals — or animals expanding their ranges into a new territory? Or would it be helpful in getting a species list of animals in areas that are not protected parks?

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