Let’s talk biology

As a biology major, Gould’s The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister’s Pox. Was very interesting to me. Let’s take a closer look at these organisms.

The Hedgehog:

Like us, hedgehogs are mammals. As an aside, they are incredibly cute. Look at him…. 😀 Anywho…Gould uses the hedgehog as an example of a sort of generalist inside each field. This is seen in the nature of the hedgehog. They are widely spread, and exist in a variety of conditions. They have a spiny defense mechanism, and use this in general to protect them. Hedgehogs are low level consumers, but like any other organism, are necessary for the survival and maintenance of the ecosystem.

The Fox: 

Once again, foxes are mammals. Also, like hedgehogs, super cute. Gould uses the fox as an example of a more specific type of person inside each area. This is also seen in the life of the fox. They are hunters, preying on small animals and usually existing in a more specific niche. Interestingly enough, there are some species of fox that prey on hedgehogs. I question if Gould was aware of this. Did he mean this as a hidden connection to the specialization debate? Is it just coincidence? I figure that he did not specifically mean to connect this, but in a way it really does work. 

 

A very broad look at these organisms shows us exactly what Gould was trying to get at. While intentional or not, this biological perspective offers an interesting view on what Gould is arguing.

 

 

Data taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org