How a Species Evolved Fast Enough to Save Itself from Extinction

<2>How a Species Evolved Fast Enough to Save Itself from Extinction

<3>A Rare Glimpse of Evolutionary Rescue

In the face of such adversity, a remarkable phenomenon was observed in California’s scarlet monkeyflower. Genetic analyses revealed that many of these flowers rapidly evolved, allowing them to cope with water scarcity and rebound from decline.

<3>Evolutionary Rescue: A Beacon of Hope

“The fact that certain organisms are able to adapt just because of genetics that are already present is a great source of hope,” said Daniel Anstett, a plant biologist at Cornell University and lead author on a new study on the issue. “It’s one more arrow in the quiver of different ways that populations might be able to survive the massive climate change we’re inflicting on the planet.”

<3>The Recovery of Scarlet Monkeyflowers

The recovery of Sequoia National Park’s scarlet monkeyflowers offers rare, real-world evidence of what scientists call “evolutionary rescue.” According to the study published Thursday in the journal Science, it suggests that some species may be able to evolve quickly enough to keep