Looking at the original article, I'd be surprised if this wasn't already known in the 1960s, just expressed in a somewhat different mathematical language.
As for the linked article, I think I had better start posting some biology to Hacker News to get the standard up...
It sucks living in the slow zone.
Vernor Vinge reference?
Fascinating stuff. However, I would still say that this evolutionarily optimized, with energy consumed being a factor in success. It is worth noting that fundamental limit discovered is achieved by evolution. It did its job right.
I don't really see how optimal survival strategy and fundamental energetic constraints are not linked. The process of germination certainly takes additional structures and systems that would have to evolve.