Blog #229--Interesting Tidbits Not Included in Book, Part 20

This article continues a series of short subjects that add to the body of knowledge shared in my book “It’s a Secret, So Pass It On: a Toolbox For Life.”

Tidbit #1: Many researchers who study evolution have assumed that mutations occur as a result of geographic isolation. Life forms limited to specific environments adapt to survive and take on somewhat different features than their close relatives in other locations. We see this all the time, and not just on the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin first noticed and documented this phenomenon. Recent evidence proves there are other factors at work as well.

The story of the South Hills crossbill is an interesting one. It survives in a lodgepole pine forest in Idaho by eating the pine seeds. Over the past 5000 years or so, changes have occurred within both the bird and pine populations. To protect against the birds eating all their seeds, the lodgepole pines have evolved to produce thicker cone scales to keep out the birds. Then the crossbill evolved a longer beak to get at the seeds. Then the trees evolved again, and so did the birds. This coevolution is common in Nature.

However, scientists have discovered that geographic isolation is not present in this case. Matt Simon reported for wired.com on 9/29/16 about an article published in Molecular Ecology. He said that other crossbills that did not show signs of mutation were flying into and out of the territory while the South Hills crossbills were evolving. It is speculated that subtle differences in vocalizations have created a type of reproductive isolation, meaning the South Hills crossbills mate with others of their particular strain and not other crossbills.

While some of the crossbills interbreed, there is enough genetic difference between the South Hills crossbills and others to allow scientists to separate them into their own species. While these differences are subtle relative to the grand scheme of things, they are enough to excite scientists to look for other evidence of genetic divergence based on these additional conditions.

Tidbit #2: Some large breed dogs like drinking water from the toilet, and this tends to gross out their owners. But I believe there are two good reasons for this behavior. First of all, it is likely fresh water since most toilets are flushed frequently. It may seem “dirty” to us, but the water is probably fresher and more energized than what is in their bowls, especially if their owners don’t replace stale water with fresh daily.

Secondly, forcing a dog to drink from a water bowl laying on the floor requires them to lap up the water against the force of gravity. They can’t pick up the bowl and drink from it like we can, and using their tongues to force drops of water into their mouths can be problematic for them on the ground. But a toilet bowl’s water is elevated, allowing them a better angle to reach and lap up the water. If we place their fresh water bowl in an area that duplicates this angle, my guess is that most dogs will drink from it happily without needing the toilet.

This is good advice for all pet owners. But if your dogs still use the toilet, make sure you flush after each use. If they seem healthy after frequent exposure to toilet water, then illness fears are greatly reduced.

Tidbit #3—I’ve spoken in the past about our cat Ebony. She is so submissive and fearful, she tends to panic at any situation unfamiliar to her. Her sister Ivory has gone outside on a chain and harness since she became an adult and accepts the restraint most of the time. But we had to expose Ebony to the outside a little at a time. We used a fenced-in run to aid this purpose, allowing her to be outside, experience Nature and gradually reduce her fear.

Ivory is a bully and has competed successfully against Ebony in the home. Unable to get equal attention with my wife, Ebony has had little chance at happiness (she appreciates my wife’s attention more than mine). Before this summer, her only thrill was finding a new place to sleep. Every time Ivory would bully and bite her, she would go to the dry food left out free choice for them. Like humans who turn to food for comfort in difficult times, she gained weight and needed a diet.

But the dynamics of the relationship between Ivory and Ebony prevents us from feeding her a food designed to produce weight loss. If Ebony gets something Ivory doesn’t get, Ivory attacks her. Ivory doesn’t need the diet food; limiting them to that diet would frustrate both. Ebony would have that much less to enjoy about her life. Fortunately, we found a solution in an unexpected way.

My wife decided to let Ebony go outside without a restraint since she panicked every time we put a harness on her. Ebony had jumped over the fenced run once due to a fearful sound in her vicinity, but she was aware enough to find our back door. Giving her outside freedom was a risky gamble, but it paid off. Ebony now looks forward to going outside, and she happily stays within the confines of our yard. Ivory began slipping out of her harness, so she now goes out without it as well. Both stay near the house and don’t bother others, a necessary proviso.

We didn’t do this to help Ebony lose weight, but that’s what happened. She was doing interesting things, so she was too busy observing and moving around to think about food. The food was inside, so she couldn’t eat it as often. She was so much happier, so much more excited about living, that the pounds began to fall off. She is a large Persian cat, so she may regain some of it in the winter. But if we can keep Ivory from bullying her and let her know she is being treated equally to her sister, we can reduce the frustration that leads to excessive eating.

Food for thought: We can learn much about how the world really works by studying our languages and the phrases we use to describe our lives. One I heard recently is quite descriptive and accurate, although we often say it without recognizing the implications. We say a person “gave up the ghost.” This literally means his or her spirit separated from its body and resumed its life in the eternal existence awaiting it. Maybe if we thought about what we say, we might be able to let go of our fear of dying.

http://dreamtime3.wixsite.com/jacktuttlebook

Comments and questions can be directed to dreamtime@insight-books.com.