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The biotic crisis and the future of evolution
1Green College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6HG, and Upper Meadow, Old Road, Oxford OX3 8SZ, United Kingdom. Myers1N@aol.com
Summary
The current extinction crisis threatens not only species but also fundamental evolutionary processes. This disruption could lead to long-term changes in life
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Conservation science
- Ecology
Background:
- The planet faces a significant biotic crisis, leading to widespread species extinction.
- The long-term evolutionary consequences of this crisis are less understood but potentially more profound.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the disruption of basic evolutionary processes by the current biotic crisis.
- To underscore the need for a better understanding of human impacts on evolutionary trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of current biodiversity loss and its evolutionary implications.
- Synthesis of potential future evolutionary scenarios based on ecological and evolutionary theory.
Main Results:
- The crisis is predicted to alter future evolution, causing homogenization, proliferation of opportunistic species, and a decline in biodisparity.
- Specific impacts include a potential end to large vertebrate speciation and depletion of tropical evolutionary powerhouses.
- Unpredictable novelties may emerge, alongside speciation in human-adapted taxa.
Conclusions:
- Human activities are profoundly altering the future course of evolution.
- Current conservation policies inadequately address the long-term evolutionary consequences of biodiversity loss.
- Further research is crucial to understand and mitigate these evolutionary disruptions.