MARKS: It’s not fair. MARKS: Evolution isn’t about being fair. It’s about adapting to changing circumstances. - Adrian Tchaikovsky

I’m the expert, God help us all.

By all means, go up to the surface and have the run of the Zone, Doctor Marks. Pit the indefatigability of your human spirit against the planet. See how that goes for you.

The emergent ecologies that were recolonising the place were very light on mammals and birds. You got little ones, mostly nocturnal even when their ancestors had been diurnal. The big winners were amphibians, reptiles, bugs. Because hot and damp works for ectotherms.