Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Speculative biology is simultaneously a science and form of art in which one speculates on the possibilities of life and evolution. What could the world look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct? What could alien lifeforms look like? What kinds of plants and animals might exist in the far future? These questions and more are tackled by speculative biologists, and the Speculative Evolution welcomes all relevant ideas, inquiries, and world-building projects alike. With a member base comprising users from across the world, our community is the largest and longest-running place of gathering for speculative biologists on the web.

While unregistered users are able to browse the forum on a basic level, registering an account provides additional forum access not visible to guests as well as the ability to join in discussions and contribute yourself! Registration is free and instantaneous.

Join our community today!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Humans artificially drive evolution of new species
Topic Started: Jun 29 2016, 01:55 PM (1,004 Views)
peashyjah
Member Avatar
Bydo
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Humans artificially drive evolution of new species
Discontinued projects:
The New Ostracoderms (i might continue with this project again someday)
The Americas (where in 58 million years from now in the future North and South America has both become isolated island continents)



All Expansions (my attempt at expanding the universe of All Tomorrows by Nemo Ramjet aka C.M. Kosemen, started June 6, 2018)
Anthropozoic (my attempt at expanding the universe of Man After Man and also a re-imagining of it, coming 2019 or 2020)
New Cenozoica (my attempt at expanding the universe of The New Dinosaurs and also a re-imagining of it, also coming 2019 or 2020)
All Alternatives or All Changes (a re-telling of All Tomorrows but with some minor and major "changes", coming June 10, 2018)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Flisch
Member Avatar
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
So the world is changing, species come and go as they always have. Only this time I guess it's noteworthy, because this time it's homo sapiens and not some other random species / abiological environment factor and because we're experiencing it firsthand?

Ah, the beauty of human arrogance.
We have a discord. If you want to join, simply message me, Icthyander or Sphenodon.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LittleLazyLass
Member Avatar
Proud quilt in a bag

Flisch
Jun 29 2016, 02:17 PM
So the world is changing, species come and go as they always have. Only this time I guess it's noteworthy, because this time it's homo sapiens and not some other random species / abiological environment factor and because we're experiencing it firsthand?

Ah, the beauty of human arrogance.
Why do you always have to so pessimistic about these kinds of things?

No, I suppose they're no "special", at least not in this way (although they are in the sense that this is a unique factor driving their natural selection), but if you ask me, this is still quite interesting, if you ask me. The fact that urban environments lead to new species is just as interesting as any other such case of two species arising from a certain factor. No, it's not any more noteworthy, but it's not any less either, which is enough to be cool, in my eyes.
Quote:
 
and because we're experiencing it firsthand?
Well, of course. It only makes sense we'll be intrigued with a case we can see happening before our own eyes, that's just how we humans work. It allows us to know specifics about the split that we never could with something that's already happened.
totally not British, b-baka!
Posted Image You like me (Unlike)
I don't even really like this song that much but the title is pretty relatable sometimes, I guess.
Me
What, you want me to tell you what these mean?
Read First
Words Maybe
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Flisch
Member Avatar
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I don't have anything against calling it "interesting", but I find the alarmist undertone in these kinds of articles always a bit annoying.
We have a discord. If you want to join, simply message me, Icthyander or Sphenodon.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rodlox
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
peashyjah
Jun 30 2016, 05:32 PM
I don't think all new species evolved and lived in urban environments because that might never happen.
what?
.---------------------------------------------.
Parts of the Cluster Worlds:
"Marsupialless Australia" (what-if) & "Out on a Branch" (future evolution) & "The Earth under a still sun" (WIP)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rodlox
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
peashyjah
Jun 30 2016, 06:22 PM
Rodlox
Jun 30 2016, 05:36 PM
peashyjah
Jun 30 2016, 05:32 PM
I don't think all new species evolved and lived in urban environments because that might never happen.
what?
There's something wrong, @Rodlox?
your sentence or question or whatever it was - its illegible.

either you're saying you don't think species evolve, or that new species can arise in urban enviroments, or you're babbling.
.---------------------------------------------.
Parts of the Cluster Worlds:
"Marsupialless Australia" (what-if) & "Out on a Branch" (future evolution) & "The Earth under a still sun" (WIP)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LittleLazyLass
Member Avatar
Proud quilt in a bag

peashyjah
Jun 30 2016, 05:32 PM
I don't think all new species evolved and lived in urban environments because that might never happen.
...it already has happened.
totally not British, b-baka!
Posted Image You like me (Unlike)
I don't even really like this song that much but the title is pretty relatable sometimes, I guess.
Me
What, you want me to tell you what these mean?
Read First
Words Maybe
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
whachamacallit2
Member Avatar
Guy who yells at squirrels
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I think he means that "new species have never evolved due to urban development until now". While, until we find the permian sophonts, is true enough.
Click for shameless self plug!
Spoiler: click to toggle

Get you one at http://whachamacallit1.deviantart.com/

Learn the life, history, and fate of the tidally locked planet Asteria at: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5725927/1
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LittleLazyLass
Member Avatar
Proud quilt in a bag

I mean, define now. Who's to say this hasn't been happening for thousands of years?
totally not British, b-baka!
Posted Image You like me (Unlike)
I don't even really like this song that much but the title is pretty relatable sometimes, I guess.
Me
What, you want me to tell you what these mean?
Read First
Words Maybe
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
whachamacallit2
Member Avatar
Guy who yells at squirrels
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *
That's true. But I guess since we don't know we should just make a raspberry sound. I guess we know some snails were artificially selected by people for increased size back many thousands of years ago, but that's not the urban development scenario.
Edited by whachamacallit2, Jun 30 2016, 10:23 PM.
Click for shameless self plug!
Spoiler: click to toggle

Get you one at http://whachamacallit1.deviantart.com/

Learn the life, history, and fate of the tidally locked planet Asteria at: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5725927/1
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ànraich
Member Avatar
L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Flisch
Jun 29 2016, 02:17 PM
So the world is changing, species come and go as they always have. Only this time I guess it's noteworthy, because this time it's homo sapiens and not some other random species / abiological environment factor and because we're experiencing it firsthand?

Ah, the beauty of human arrogance.
Rocks get made into sharp bits all the time by environmental factors, but that doesn't make stone knapping any less of an achievement. It's an achievement of human ingenuity, not an achievement of nature. By your logic why bothered to be impressed by anything? Do you often to to the Himalayas and yell at the tourists? "I GUESS THIS TECTONIC COLLISION IS NOTEWORTHY SINCE YOU'RE HERE TO CLIMB IT HURR DURR."

This particular article, however, is not an achievement. It's also not news. Hasn't been for 200,000 years or so. Reading that article was a complete waste of my time that I will never get back. It's like turning on the TV news and seeing a special report about how the wind blew today, or how the world was illuminated by a great incandescent circle in the sky until it disappeared beyond the western horizon. "This just in! Causal relations exist! Read all about it!"
We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar.

"The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming

Tree That Owns Itself
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Flisch
Member Avatar
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Parasky
Jul 4 2016, 08:09 AM
Rocks get made into sharp bits all the time by environmental factors, but that doesn't make stone knapping any less of an achievement.
The amazing thing about knee-capping is not the pointy bits, but the fact that an animal has the abstract thinking and foresight to turn a rock into a desired shape, in order to use it as a tool. So you are right, pointy rocks is pretty lame in itself. They exist everywhere, but knee-capping itself, or rather the mental abilities required to do it are very noteworthy, because they are, well, unique.

Also, this is a terrible simile. Knee-capping and... abiotic environmental factors sharpening rocks have two different causalities. One wouldn't happen if an organism wouldn't make the conscious decision to do it. The other just happens randomly.

A better simile would be to say "Oh man, there may be a lot of trees, but this tree just so randomly happens to grow in my garden. Holy crap, this tree grows and is alive, unlike those that are outside my garden. Here, have a scientific article that talks about the latest breakthrough about how the tree in my garden specifically is made of wood. Amazing!"
We have a discord. If you want to join, simply message me, Icthyander or Sphenodon.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LittleLazyLass
Member Avatar
Proud quilt in a bag

Quote:
 
A better simile would be to say "Oh man, there may be a lot of trees, but this tree just so randomly happens to grow in my garden. Holy crap, this tree grows and is alive, unlike those that are outside my garden. Here, have a scientific article that talks about the latest breakthrough about how the tree in my garden specifically is made of wood. Amazing!"
Well, that's a rather downputting comparison. This is more like "Tree from a group that usually grow in humid forests evolve to live in deserts". I mean, this is a completely different environment species are starting to adapt to. Unless you're arguing that different living conditions in the context of evolution don't matter?
totally not British, b-baka!
Posted Image You like me (Unlike)
I don't even really like this song that much but the title is pretty relatable sometimes, I guess.
Me
What, you want me to tell you what these mean?
Read First
Words Maybe
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Niedfaru
Member Avatar
.
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Knee-capping... I hope that's an autocorrect mess up, because knee-capping and flint-knapping are very different things. :D :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
IIGSY
Member Avatar
A huntsman spider that wastes time on the internet because it has nothing better to do
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
It says we have domesticated over 400 animals...
Projects
Punga: A terraformed world with no vertebrates
Last one crawling: The last arthropod

ARTH-6810: A world without vertebrates (It's ded, but you can still read I guess)

Potential ideas-
Swamp world: A world covered in lakes, with the largest being caspian sized.
Nematozoic: After a mass extinction of ultimate proportions, a single species of nematode is the only surviving animal.
Tri-devonian: A devonian like ecosystem with holocene species on three different continents.

Quotes


Phylogeny of the arthropods and some related groups


In honor of the greatest clade of all time


More pictures


Other cool things


All African countries can fit into Brazil
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Fully Featured & Customizable Free Forums
Learn More · Sign-up for Free
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Science Central · Next Topic »
Add Reply