humans impacting species evolution

 

Confirming something that we have all suspected, new data indicates that humans are altering the rate of evolution in some animal species in ways that may hurt their long term survival, according to the New York Times.

Based on the analysis of 29 species, they found that the rate of evolutionary change is  three times greater in animals subject to “harvest selection”, early death due to predation or mass farming techniques.

The most likely change is in maturation rate, where many species are propagating sooner.  The intent being that the species can have offspring when they are younger and smaller, and before they are killed due to hunting or other forms of predation.

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a change that benefits survival.  For one thing, when species mature early, they are not as successful in reproduction.  For example, a fish will produce less eggs in early maturation as opposed to a fish that waits one extra year.  Also, the species is selecting for smallness however that is a trait that makes predation even more likely.

This could be something to consider when looking at areas and species that require protection.  If an animal is expressing these traits (early maturation and smaller size), it could be used as justification for protection before the animal becomes extinct.

quote of the day

“In order for natural selection to help us adapt the the Western diet, we’d have to be prepared to let those it sickens, die.”

Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food.

Earth-Touch

I was directed to an amazing website today, and I wanted to share.

Part of the problem with many videos about nature is that it falsely gives you the sense that there is a lot of activity. But, even in watching your cats for a while, you understand that many animals sit around and sleep the day away. I think in nature, even more so. These are beings that are dealing with survival on a daily basis, something that has been missing in our lives for decades. They are limited with food and water, they are on alert to make sure they are not attacked, and in many cases they live in environments that are hot, making it so they must reserve there energy.

That is why I was happy to see a different kind of video being made and posted. Ones that showed how it is really like to be in nature. Go to Earth-Touch.com. You will get a true sense of what it is like to survive; what amazing skill it takes, and how miraculous it is that evolution occurs. I feel it is something we are very detached from and may be why we are having such a hard time surviving, ourselves.

In one video of maggots feasting on a nyala carcass, I found something profound in the description: A lesson could be learnt here about how interconnected all creatures, including us, are in the natural world, and how perfectly everything works together. This realization reawakened in us the value of our own lives and how precious every moment and every experience is.

I accept!

The Church of England is taking the formal steps to apologize to Charles Darwin. Yes, it may have been 200 years overdue…. but let’s look at the positive side; they are humble enough to admit that they were wrong in not believing in evolution.

go HERE for the article.

you can also go HERE for something I wrote about evolution.

wake up

Please read this. I think it is an amazing essay and deserves to be seen by each of you.

challenging. thought provoking. educational.