Survival of the Fittest - Clem Distinctions Project
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SURVIVE?
For the purposes of this project, survival, at the very least means being able to reproduce. Additionally, having a stable energy source, so that the species would continue to live indefinitely (be able to keep reproducing and having food to stay alive) would be important. There are a few more quality of life things that would be helpful, but not necessary, so I will make a few ‘tiers’ of survival.
Tier 1:
Animals can reproduce
Tier 2:
Animals can reproduce
Animals have a stable energy source
Tier 3:
Animals can reproduce
Animals have a stable energy source
Animals live in optimal conditions (i.e. temperature, amount of water, amount of oxygen, amount of radiation, space, pressure, lack of predators) that are more or less stable
Tier 2 survivability is required for long term survival. Tier 3 survival is what the optimal creature would be able to have at any point.
WHAT ARE THE BEST CONDITIONS?
So, let's start with tier 1. Tier 1 survivability requires that animals be able to reproduce. That’s easy enough, because all life that exists currently is able to reproduce, so if it’s a single cell, mitosis would work, and if it's a multicellular creature, reproductive organs.
Now on to tier 2. Tier 2 survivability requires reproduction, which we have already addressed in tier 1, and a stable energy (aka food) source. This is important because if the food only lasts for 100 years, no matter how many times you reproduce, you’ll only last 100 years. So, what are the most stable and long lasting energy sources? In most cases, photosynthesis is a good one, but should the scenario involve not having a star, chemosynthesis is your friend. The earth naturally produces the chemicals necessary for chemosynthesis, so assuming you’re willing to live really deep in the ground or ocean, or near some hole that goes really far down, you’re set on food. Should you feel so inclined, you could also go the more predatory route, and eat your fellow survivors, but that plan assumes there will be other creatures capable of surviving the doomsday scenario presented.
Now for tier 3. Optimal survival conditions aren’t uniform for all creatures on our planet, but there are general patterns. Let's talk about each of the conditions I mentioned above.
Most animals capable of regulating their own body temperature live between 95℉ and 105℉ (SOURCE), and most that can't regulate their own temperature like around what we have (95-104℉) or 41-50℉ (SOURCE). Very few creatures like anything below 40℉ and above 105℉. But, if the sun goes out, it’s gonna get really cold, or if we move closer, it’s gonna get really hot, so something that can survive the more extreme temperatures would be optimal.
Now onto water and oxygen. These two elements are necessary for most life to turn food into energy and in several scenarios those two things are severely reduced. Having something able to either be able to harvest water from many sources, or be able to hibernate for long stretches would be optimal. Now for oxygen. Something that either doesn’t need oxygen to survive, or needs very little, or can hibernate for long periods would again be optimal. These two factors mean that something small would be better than something big with a high oxygen and water need.
How about radiation? Being exposed to high levels of radiation for extended periods of time breaks down cells and genes causing system wide failures, especially in the reproductive parts of creatures (which is bad for continuing the species). There are only a few creatures that we know are capable of surviving (at least with minimal damage) extensive exposure to radiation. There are bacteria that can totally repair themselves from any damage, and tardigrades can withstand radiation with minimal damage for a few days at a time. Something with the capability to repair it’s cells and genes from radiation damage would be important in a scenario with high levels of radiation.
Most scenarios are unlikely to restrict space too much, but a smaller creature would be fine in reduced space and in normal space.
Now pressure. If a scenario would require surviving creatures to go deep in the ocean or deep underground, a creature that can withstand enormous amounts of pressure would be optimal. Now, there are two routes for surviving extreme pressure. The first is just having a really strong body, but that is more difficult than the other method, which is just being really small (and compact). Being small allows for a higher pressure tolerance, because your surface area to volume ratio is lower than that of a larger animal. This means essentially that if you are smaller there are less pressure columns hitting you.
Now for the last tier 3 requirement; lack of predators. This one is tricky, because it’s less something you do, and more something that others don’t do. There are ways to deter predators, but things will usually try and eat you eventually, so the best scenario is that you are the only species left, and don’t need to eat physical things. Other than that you either want to taste terrible, be good at running or be the biggest. Being the biggest might be the easiest in most scenarios, but ones with extreme pressure or lack of space would make large size bad. Being good at running is another option, and in that case being small (and so, maneuverable) would be beneficial. Tasting bad is the third option, and a good contender if you don’t plan on moving much. It is sort of like spicy peppers. While we may eat them, the original intent of the peppers is to dissuade other things from eating them by being full of acid that makes your mouth hurt.
That summarizes the requirements (and solutions to fit those requirements) for our 3 tiers of survival. Now, for the big part of the project! What could survive? The spinner has six different scenarios (one for each color), each with their own challenges. On the inside of each of these panels, you will find the challenges, and then a creature capable of surviving it.