Sunday, November 26, 2006

Biodiversity plus

Wouldn't you know it? Build, mine, farm and develop no matter what the ecological cost conservatives are really just helpin' little ol' evolution do it's thing (especially the nutty creationist types). You see, wiping out species upon species until you earn the 'mass extinction' award can lead to the evolution of many new complex species.
"The Permian extinction occurred 251 million years ago and wiped out 95% of marine species. Before this “great dying”, simple and complex marine ecosystems were equally abundant. But afterwards, complex ecosystems became three times as common - a ratio that has persisted ever since, Wagner says."

There is a downside however. More complexity and less simplicity means the chance of another George Bush evolving are exceedingly slim. What a terrible thing that would be.