Should evolution be taught in schools?

[Dunadan]

Originally posted by Lief Erikson
And BeardofPants, jerseydevil, whoever out there has some knowledge of evolution and this kind of thing, I don't want to be holding a private conversation with Cirdan. I'd rather hear of your opinions on this as well.

I don't have any special knowledge of evolution, but I may be able to comment within the framework of the examples you cite.

If it is possible for entire regions to change their climate and vegetation in such ways, it would seem to me likely that the fauna (which have legs, fins and wings, unlike plants - except ents of course) would follow to the areas which suited their form and function. "Follow" may even be a contentious word; from evolutionary first principles, they would die out in all areas except those which suited them. Also, there is no biological reason why a relatively small vestigial population of (say) elephants couldn't expand to fill a new, vacant niche in a relatively short period of time (hundreds rather than thousands of years).

Are you saying that there were NO (say) elephant-friendly environments during these periods? If so, I think the onus is on you to come up with some better evidence than a suggestion to search on Google.