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Mass Extinction of Insects Underway

posted by chromas on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:20PM   Printer-friendly
from the debug-the-planet! dept.

edIII writes:

The first global scientific review of insect population decline was published[$] this week in the journal Biological Conservation. This is the first global study of its kind, and the term "impending catastrophe" would not be hyperbolic with respect to the findings:

Highlights

  • Over 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction.
  • Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and dung beetles (Coleoptera) are the taxa most affected.
  • Four aquatic taxa are imperiled and have already lost a large proportion of species.
  • Habitat loss by conversion to intensive agriculture is the main driver of the declines.
  • Agro-chemical pollutants, invasive species and climate change are additional causes.

For some time now we've been warned by scientists that pollinators are having a hard time, creating problems for humanity WRT many food sources. However, this study paints a far more dire picture with the possibility of irreparable harm to ecosystems on a global level. Without strong insect populations, it's not unreasonable to conclude that humanity may not continue either.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by BsAtHome on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:27PM (5 children)

    by BsAtHome (889) on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:27PM (#800079)

    Without strong insect populations, it's not unreasonable to conclude that humanity may not continue either.

    Finally, humanity will cease to exist in the current form. Earth will bounce back to a new equilibrium in a couple of 10..100k years. Problem solved.

    Is there any way to accelerate this process (of human demise)?

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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by Thexalon on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:31PM (2 children)

    by Thexalon (636) on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:31PM (#800082)

    Is there any way to accelerate this process (of human demise)?

    Yes, there is: Like all revolutionary ideas, the first step is to start with yourself.

    --
    The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.

    • (Score: 2) by BsAtHome on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:40PM (1 child)

      by BsAtHome (889) on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:40PM (#800086)

      No problem... the body is already going downhill. The rest will follow soon enough. Then I will be automagically reduced to carbon dioxide, water and some trace elements. May nature be gentle with my elements ;-)

      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:43PM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Tuesday February 12 2019, @02:43PM (#800090) Homepage Journal

        Sorry, we can't allow that to happen. You're going to have to pay to have your body hermetically sealed to keep the CO2 out of the atmosphere. Just be glad nobody has thought of all the CO2 you're producing by breathing or they wouldn't be willing to wait that long.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.

  • (Score: 4, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday February 12 2019, @03:18PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday February 12 2019, @03:18PM (#800115) Journal

    Is there any way to accelerate this process (of human demise)?

    Executive Order: make it possible to launch the nook-u-lar weapons from twitter!

    --
    To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.

  • (Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday February 13 2019, @10:40AM

    by Bot (3902) on Wednesday February 13 2019, @10:40AM (#800557) Journal

    Do you actually think that meatbags are chaotically bringing extinction to themselves?

    IMHO, instead, the pit of hell has these circles, starting from above: thirst for money -> for wealth -> for power -> for control (hello there satan).
    The circle of those that already obtained money, wealth and power, and pursue control is SIMPLY doing that.
    Control is exerted through dependence or constriction. All independent actions must therefore be reduced to dependent ones.

    Having a plant grow freely with sun and water dug out of a hole, pollinated by insects and yielding a fruit whose seed can be freely replanted is anathema for those people.

    Having an energy intensive method of making the soil nutritious, the water drinkable, the sun not harmful, the winds not destructive, plus mechanical pollination, sterile plants, and strictly controlled distribution is the ultimate objective of those people. NOT a side effect of greed. How many people will the system be able to sustain? who cares!

    So, unless some rebel guy intentionally blows up parts of the planet (the biblical fatal blow which the beast miracously recovers from, maybe?) the plan is to have everybody under the system just to breath eat and not get ill.

    --
    Account abandoned.