First, and no disrespect intended, but does anybody read this site? There isn't a single comment in your first dozen very intelligent entries! How can it be that no one has anything to say?!?
As for the number of species, I believe that differentiation is always defining new species, such that given a generally benevolent but dynamic environment, there are always new speciation.
BTW, I believe and view this as an inherently optimistic opportunism, and generally benevolent and peaceful. Much more new niche exploitation rather than "tooth and nail" scrapping over existing resources. If evolution can be presented this way, it would attract more adherents. Currently, we have fundementalists who don't believe in evolution citing the "tooth and nail" version of their reality (based on something they don't believe!?!) to legitamize their belief in tax cuts, war, and other tawdry policies. A struggling person, be they plagued in the economic or sociol world, sees the intangible virtual "tooth and nail." This is such a weird cirle : the creationists/psycho-religious use the ugly version of something they don't believe to simultaneously pump up psuedo-patriotism ( kill the enemy, because power works), dangle carrots (you too can be a winner in a win/lose world), and offer solice to the seeming losers through religion - which denies evolution.
I believe a beautiful and benevolent description of evolution can be part of a foundation to begin to build a win/win world, economically, socially, and politically. The present foundation is deep, but wrong, and built on sand. It can be re-built.

Back to species numbers. Numbers beget numbers. The more species; the more the growth of species. Given our wonderful climate since the last major ice-age, we ( the Earth) probably had the most species quite recently. I say that the number topped out in 1939.

Posted by: Richard W. Crews at August 3, 2003 05:25 AM

Code word is currently xyzzy

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Code word:

Remember personal info?
YesNo
Comments: