Tuesday, May 8, 2012

It’s Not So Lonely at the Top: Ecosystems Thrive High in the Sky


Tepuis, or tabletop mountains are located at the northern edge of the Amazon rain forest.  They are one of the most unique mountains because they are ringed by sheer cliffs that are thousands of feet tall.  In order to reach the tops of the tepuis you either have to climb the sheer cliffs or take a helicopter.  Scientists are wondering how animals got to the top of the peaks.  It seems that the scientists looked at genetics and DNA to answer these questions.  They looked at common ancestors and tried to find out when the DNA became different.  They can up with the hypothesis that the animals either climbed up the mountains because of this genetic change.   

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/science/its-not-so-lonely-at-the-top-tepui-ecosystems-thrive-up-high.html?_r=1&ref=dnadeoxyribonucleicacid

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