Re: Waimanu

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dinoboygraphics@aol.com>
To: <jbois@verizon.net>; <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: Waimanu


> I think Michael's points are well taken; The "survivability" of a clade 
> depends on many things, and larger animals are not necessarily less 
> "adaptable".
> How long pterosaurs could have hung on to these larger niches is an 
> experiment that we will sadly never get to run.

It's an experiment that may be running as we speak, with the new players 
being large marine soaring birds vs. bats.  I think it may be a while yet 
before bats replace albatrosses.  As an aside, I agree with Mike's 
downplaying of the importance of 'niches'.

Jim