Super-Predators: Humans Force Rapid Evolution of Animals

[The Straight Story]

Super-Predators: Humans Force Rapid Evolution of Animals

Acting as super-predators, humans are forcing changes to body size and reproductive abilities in some species 300 percent faster than would occur naturally, a new study finds.

Hunting and fishing by individual sportsmen as well as large-scale commercial fishing are also outpacing other human influences, such as pollution, in effects on the animal kingdom. The changes are dramatic and may put the survival of some species in question.

In a review of 34 studies that tracked 29 species across 40 different geographic systems, harvested and hunted populations are on average 20 percent smaller in body size than previous generations, and the age at which they first reproduce is on average 25 percent earlier.

"Harvested organisms are the fastest-changing organisms of their kind in the wild, likely because we take such high proportions of a population and target the largest," said lead researcher Chris Darimont of the University of California, Santa Cruz. "It's an ideal recipe for rapid trait change."

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090112-super-predators.html

[Lorien]

1. Just another good reason to cut back on the meat

but a large percentage of the human population just won't care...until they can no longer eat their favorite animal, that is. :-(

[Hydra]

2. Whatduya Know! Cause and effect DOES work!

:sarcasm:

There needs to be far fewer of us and we need to be a LOT more responsible about how we treat our world.

I wonder how many of those overhunted and overfished animals were thrown out because the meat went bad before it could be eaten?

[Greyskye]

3. The Humboldt Squid are invading already

Voracious 7-foot long jumbo squid invade California waters

Recently a boat with folks fishing for these squid capsized, and 2 fishermen got in the middle of a feeding frenzy of Humboldt Squid. Their relatives were unable to identify their bodies.

[lonestarnot]

6. Lots of teeth to go around there.

[Confusious]

7. Super sized Calamari!

YUM!

[smalll]

4. I thought this was going to be another Pitbull thread.

:shrug:

[Taverner]

5. I would not mind a National Initiative to cut back on meat

But I know that will not happen

[Tashca]

9. Tax what we don't want

and subsidize what we do want.

I am a major meat eater.....grew up on a livestock farm..

I've been thinking alot about this lately....why not tax meat. Take that money and use it for transitioning livestock growers to something we do want....and also subsidizing people that can't afford food the price it is now???

I bet something like that would never fly....

[Runcible Spoon]

12. it's a great idea, but the ag corporations who suck subsidies would cry foul

and they are a pretty influential lobby. If nothing else, I think we could at least tax meat 5 or 10 cents a pound to provide for ethical living conditions and slaughter practices. Another thing that won't happen.

[Tashca]

13. Of course they would cry foul

There are three aspects to our food supply...The producer...the input and output providers (middlemen)...and finally the eaters.

I think government should help provide for a safe affordable plentiful supply of food.

It's time the eaters set the rules. They have mostly been out of the equation for many years. I know the producers would follow that lead. It's the damned middlemen (influential lobby) who cause the problems.

I'm not picking on you.....but I see alot of bitching on here about food and food related topics. I don't see many workable solutions being put forth.

[Runcible Spoon]

14. there are PLENTY of workable solutions

I really would like to see ag subsidies cut off to everyone who is not a family farmer and institute strict conditions on ag subsidies. I would like biotech industries banned from trademarking crops and seeds, forcing the use of brand-specific pesticides, and all the other fucked up things they do here and abroad. I would like a restrictive tax on meat and an aggressive campaign to re-educate people about how to use plant protein and relegate meat to the same part of the pyramid as fats, oils, and sweets. I would like tax incentives for local and organic production. I would like restrictive taxes on out of season fruit flow in from Chile. I would like all products containing high fructose corn syrup and trans fats clearly labeled, and I would like their fucking subsidies cut too, and while we're at it get rid of ethanol as it's not the clean fuel champion it's cracked up to be. I would like funding for price controls on fresh produce, and a requirement that all urban areas have access to local, fresh produce. A simple tax on fast food would balance things out.

I'm not the only one who wants these things, it's just none that would actually get pushed through until government isn't balls-deep in corporate money and influence. The solutions aren't the problem, it's telling the pigs at the trough that it's time for a fucking diet.

[Tashca]

15. For the most part I like your list....

Just to pick out a few......here it's hard to determine the line between a family farm and not a family farm. There needs to be a clear definition. I might go for that. The current commodity program rewards over production. I might change that too. It's way too tight on the types of crops you can grow. Not much room left for creativity or alternatives.
I assume you are referring to Round-up and RR genes......Funny thing is....China is quickly becoming the major supplier of Glyphosate in Ag production...leaving Monsanto behind. I do not have major problems with some GMO research.....it just doesn't need to be in the food supply or maybe even for use in food crops at all.
Labeling is so important.....country of origin is an absolute must as well as GMO labeling even if it's a small fraction of the mix.
I worked for a few years in the Organic side of production. I got so frustrated with the lack of support from Government. There are simple solutions that wouldn't be that costly to help transition away from conventional. As programs now stand....very few farmers can stand the financial burden and realities of the transition. The demand is there though.

My point was....Government needs to work in balance between the three areas. All need attention... But your right.... some animals (pigs) are more equal than others......

[Tashca]

8. Fascinating

It makes total sense. As humans hunt out the larger prey of course that will leave more genes from the smaller adults.....

I have watched the last few years as plant species have rapidly evolved as a reaction to different situations in agriculture. The so called weeds have adapted to different cultural practices or different chemical applications. Twenty years ago Giant Ragweed mostly germinated in a two week time period. It now germinates in a 10-12 week time period. We are continuously selecting the traits we don't want by trying to control nature.....

[InvisibleTouch]

10. Punctuated equilibrium.

The normal course of evolution is for a species to remain fairly stable until there's reason to change. Under extreme selection pressure, species evolve rapidly and form new species. It's been that way since the beginning of life - only now it's humans and the damage they're causing, rather than asteroid impacts and ice ages, which are driving the selection.

Check out the book After Man: A Zoology of the Future for a speculative view of what might still be around after humans have driven themselves extinct.

[zagging]

11. "300 percent faster than would occur naturally, a new study finds."

There is something I've been curious about for a while and haven't seen a discussion on. Exactly what is is about mankind that is not natural? I am supposing that it must be some sort of method of synthesis or the properties of the products derived from some sort of synthesis.

If you're going to mention plastics and such, let's consider that beaver dams, honey, ant hills, and such are synthesized and would not otherwise occur in nature without their respective producers. Is there anything categorical of mankind's making that we can consider non-natural solely because it is synthesized?