Humans driving extinction faster than species can evolve, say experts

[kpete]

Source: Guardian UK

Humans driving extinction faster than species can evolve, say experts

Conservationists say rate of new species slower than diversity loss caused by the destruction of habitats and climate change

For the first time since the dinosaurs disappeared, humans are driving animals and plants to extinction faster than new species can evolve, one of the world's experts on biodiversity has warned.

Conservation experts have already signalled that the world is in the grip of the "sixth great extinction" of species, driven by the destruction of natural habitats, hunting, the spread of alien predators and disease, and climate change.

However until recently it has been hoped that the rate at which new species were evolving could keep pace with the loss of diversity of life.

Speaking in advance of two reports next week on the state of wildlife in Britain and Europe, Simon Stuart, chair of the Species Survival Commission for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – the body which officially declares species threatened and extinct – said that point had now "almost certainly" been crossed.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/07/extinction-species-evolve

[Oregone]

1. Improper disposal of radioactive waste could change all this

Come on now, "Give mutations a chance"

[Mithreal]

6. +1 Ouch.

[kestrel91316]

2. In the end, there will be rats, and cockroaches, and flies, and jellyfish.

And bacteria, of course.

[CLANG]

3. The rats won't survive either...

[kestrel91316]

5. I'm not so sure about that. They are very resourceful.

[CLANG]

12. Mammals will not survive. That is a given.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Humans are very adaptable too

We're omnivorous, we've spread to all parts of the earth, we have the ability to plan, and the ability to consciously change our environment (fire, agriculture, that kind of thing). Against that, there's a lot of investment in bringing up a child until they're independent, and so the death of an individual human makes a lot more difference to the reproduction of the parents than with a rat.

Overall, I'd say humans will outlast all animals that weigh more than 20kg, nearly all birds, amphibians, reptiles, and a lot of mammals and fish.

[bulloney]

11. And Keith Richards.

[CLANG]

13. Nothing will kill "the ghoul"...

:rofl:

[Jim__]

4. Are we driving it faster than humans can evolve?

Or, has this question occurred to the idiots who claim that these environmental changes promote economic growth?

[Mithreal]

8. Many will adapt. Many communities will not.

[PATRICK]

20. Natural process

involving the rise of intelligence. Intelligence changes all the rules of survival when it arises. The one factor here is the ability to run the food chain not just succumb when you have abused your in it.

The evolution of intelligence therefore is a brand new ballgame. We have touched the "duh" surface of survival in the new game and gotten some sensitivity to the need to fundamentally change our flaws and use of intelligence. Because of the newness(we don't KNOW what comes next really) The next stage and a typical species endgame are vying in another form of natural selection. We might be seeing that the race to meet the new challenge is lost.

What should happen. Enough intelligence can be scraped together to continue the race toward a better genetically engineered stage and meet the crises. Or not. The quality of that endurance can be shameful and horrific and the engineering terrible and continuing our moral messes. In the latter case, the attempt to preserve destructive behavior, short-sightedness and various evils I would guess extinction would grimly and mercifully bury the failed experiment on this planet barring disaster related extinctions. Some equate human evils with strengths. Pity the universe if that is the case.

No one has taken a large overview of evolution toward intelligence and intelligence toward defense and growth of the biosphere and whatever lays beyond. Minus the human historical drama it seems pretty ordered.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[RKP5637]

10. Not surprised. Also not surprised if humans fall off the list too... we are such

a destructive influence on the earth.

[stray cat]

9. extinction is a natural process

[SkyDaddy7]

15. This will be laughed at by most Americans...

We take great pride in our ignorance to basic science! Our delusions in Bronze Age Creation Myth takes priority. Plus, GAWD said we have dominion over the Earth so we can do as we please and then GAWD will be back to save us as the world ends! HOORAY!

[Delphinus]

19. +1

'Pride in our ignorance' - you said it.

[izquierdista]

16. Oh, that's all right

With all the new GM organisms being turned out of the lab, there will be plenty of new species on the loose soon.

[applegrove]

17. And the Freeper said "See I told you evolution doesn't work!"

[MisterP]

18. well, Beck would say it's okay because of the Chicxulub impact

I actually heard that one in real life--at a graduate seminar no less!
that and "rhino numbers were declining before humanity arrived, so let nature take its course and stop protecting the Javan rhino"