Jim Ford  wrote:

> Just come into this thread.
> 
> Q: What's next in human evolution?
> A: Extinction!
> 
> Why? A number of reasons, but probably the most likely is that as a result
> of our activities, the environment is changing at an ever increasing rate,
> and we won't be able to adapt or get off the planet fast enough. The worst
> bit is that we will take many/most other higher organisms with us to
> oblivion. It's not _our_ environment to f**k up - we share it with other
> 'citizens' of this planet!
> 
> Not particularly scientific - just the way I feel about it!
> 
> Regards: Jim Ford

Pretty well every species will become extinct sometime. Humans will too,
but given our widespread distribution and adaptation to a variety of
habitats, for it to happen now we'd have to undergo a massive planet
killer extinction. Wait until we get to revenant populations.

Some might become new species (depending on what you use to define
"species", but let's leave that for another time) - this is
pseudoextinction, but the result is the same - a species that existed no
longer does.

As we affect the ecological balance of things, there will be a cascade
of effects that will result in humans becoming less influential on the
ecosystems they inhabit, though, so I have some hope that we will end up
marginalising ourselves int hat way. Life will go on. Unfortunately,
that is no comfort to my children or grandchildren.
-- 
John Wilkins
DARK IN HERE, ISN'T IT?
wilkins.id.au
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 9/3/03 3:17:15 PM