niches

“If Homo erectus ate considerably more animal foods than Paranthropus boisei, that alone would guarantee rather different niches,” Sponheimer told Salon in a phone interview.

Species most likely to go extinct sooner were endemic to islands, lacked the ability to fly, had larger bodies and sharply angled wings, and occupied ecologically specific niches, according to research published this month.

But within a mere 30 million years, dinosaurs around the globe took over the niches formerly occupied by rivals.

Though the intestine was stable to many influences, unique niches within the organ were affected by the gut microbiota and showed signs of adaptation.

He added that while there have always been niches of people with extreme views, they have tended to remain in that niche.