Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats

Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats | Grist

grist.org 31 Oct '12, 6pm

Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats

Advanced-level animal lovers can even manage to care about gross vermin, so if you’re part of that elite group you might be wondering what happened to New York City’s subway rats. If the subway tunnels flooded, what became of all the creepy-tailed rodents who made their nests down there? New York magazine spoke to some rat experts about the question, and the short answer is: Some of them died. But others would have been able to climb or swim out of flooded tunnels, because rats are spooky-smart and also very tenacious and street-wise (and good swimmers in calm water, though maybe not in rushing floods). Here’s the interesting part, though: Because alpha rats would have tended to be further down into the subway tunnels, the survivors might be disproportionately submissive. Which could mean a gentler subway rat population overall. Science writer Bora Zivkovic explained on Tw...

Full article: http://grist.org/list/sandy-could-result-in-kinder-gentle...

Tweets

@Broloccini » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
This is great RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@chezzasf » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
"@grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]" Willard? No Willard?
@amandapeacher » 01 Nov '12, 6am
At least #Sandy will breed kinder, gentler rats in NY subways [link]
@Skoknic » 31 Oct '12, 9pm
RT @jaimepuyol: RT “@grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]” / hoy vi un guarén puaj
@magdalenagil » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
Hay varios newyorkers preocupados por como les fue a las ratas del subway con Sandy. no me incluyo. [link]
@UponAMountain » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
RT @grist #Sandy axes Alpha rats in #NYC subway. [link]
@jaimepuyol » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
RT “@grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]” cc @Skoknic @magdalenagil
@VintageReader » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
OK, this might be my favorite post of the day. -> RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@jessicadennis » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
Interesting. RT @BrianWong30: Flooding in NYC may select against more dominant, aggressive rats: [link]
@BrianWong30 » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
Flooding in NYC may select against more dominant, aggressive rats: [link]
@karmiclife » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
Cause we all were wondering... RT @drgrist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@speziapolis » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@ghanscom » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
@j_zimms dashes my dream of peace-lovin rats in NYC [link]
@drgrist » 31 Oct '12, 6pm
Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@lastcrazyhorn » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@LakeviewSabi » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@PKinbangkok » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
"@grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]"
@grist » 01 Nov '12, 12pm
Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@3TomatoesShort » 01 Nov '12, 12am
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@Truthseeker_013 » 31 Oct '12, 11pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@Eradona » 31 Oct '12, 9pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@mattyhick » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@ProgGrrl » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@MyFilmHabit » 31 Oct '12, 8pm
RT @BrianWong30: Flooding in NYC may select against more dominant, aggressive rats: [link]
@Transition » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@Curvaspoliticas » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@nathanschumer » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@Uwaine » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@stuntcat » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
RT @grist: Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]
@grist » 31 Oct '12, 7pm
Sandy could result in kinder, gentler subway rats [link]