[LEPS-L:7999] Re: Monarch extinction

[Pierre A Plauzoles]

Ron Gatrelle wrote:

> The following are fair questions. Are monarchs capable of hibernation in
> both cold and warm areas? If all the monarch overwintering sites in Mexico
> and Calif. were to be wiped out would D. plexippus become extinct? If the
> answer is yes, how can this be when there are non migratrory populations?
> Did the sedentary or migratory phase of monarch evolve first? Doesn't the
> phrase *by the action of man not nature* infer that man is not a part of
> nature? If so, how can that be? Which has effected the environment most,
> humans or continental shift? Humans  or ice ages? Humans or meteors? Humans
> or volcanic action? What role did Humans have in the extinction of
> dinosaurs? If none, then who is to blame? Would we want T-Rex and his
> friends romaning free today? Are some life forms totally incompatavle with
> others? If so, does evolution segregate these forms -- perhaps even to
> different planets?
> 
> Should humans work on behalf of environmental health? I say yes. Should
> humans try to preserve a kind of evolutionaty halt by maintaining all
> species in a type of stauts quo? I say no. Where exactly is the balanced and
> reasonalbe position on todays environmental issues?

Fair questions?  I think so, but without one that is absolutely 
essential, the mix loses much of its fairness: What is the time frame in 
the evolution in question?  Is it not fair to also say that most, if not 
all (someone else will have to answer that one), extinctions to occur in 
the last four hyndred years have occurred at the hands (feet? wheels? 
gases?) of Homo sapiens, not some other (non-human) factor?  
Unfortunately, I think the answer is an emphatic and overwhelming yes.  
That is one huge factor that is completely missing in the above list of 
questions, and its omission from such a list is a grave one.  Why? 
Because given sufficient time, species will adapt, and the time required 
varies from species to species.


 
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