Evolution Under Pressure: How We Change Nature and How Nature Changes Us

Evolution Under Pressure: How We Change Nature and How Nature Changes Us — page 5
Understanding what evolution is and isn’t is helpful in trying to answer these questions The theory of evolution based on natural selection is a good place to start But to really understand our role on Earth and the effect humans have had on the evolution of all other species including ourselves we can also look at the idea of not-so-natural selection What do animals like hornless rhinos porky pigs peppered moths and anole lizards have in common They’re all good examples of not-so-natural selection showing us how hunting farming inventing and even moving to the city can have a huge impact on other animals None of these human activities are bad We’ve always had an impact on other creatures just like other creatures have an impact on us The problem is through not-so-natural selection human activity has had a bigger impact on the environment and the creatures within it We’ve changed the way the world works interrupting the natural evolution of almost everything and pretty quickly So what now It’s not like we can go back in time and un-invent things And no one wants to go back to a time when we didn’t live such a comfortable life How do we decrease the impact of human activity in a way that works for all creatures How do we exist as part of the large tree of life without breaking too many branches 2 EVOLUTION UNDER PRESSURE