The Future of Life By: Edward O. Wilson Presented by: Jennifer Shea

About the Author Edward O. Wilson Edward O. Wilson –Two time Pulitzer Prize winner On Human Nature On Human Nature The Ants The Ants –One of the world’s most important scientist –Currently a Pellegrino University Research Professor –Honorary Curator in Entomology of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University

Letter to Henry Thoreau Addresses the current state of the World Addresses the current state of the World Walden Pond Walden Pond –Nature Reserve –In the same state as when Thoreau was alive Second- growth trees Second- growth trees –American Chestnut  No longer present due to a fungus

Purpose of the letter To inform Thoreau of the current state of the World To inform Thoreau of the current state of the World Wilson says “the living world is dying, the natural economy is crumbling beneath our busy feet.” (xxiv) Wilson says “the living world is dying, the natural economy is crumbling beneath our busy feet.” (xxiv) Humans are self-absorbed Humans are self-absorbed –We think about the here and now not the future

To the Ends of the Earth Two views of life Two views of life –Scientists see the world as a biosphere –Theologians see the world as creation Every human knows that life exists on Earth Every human knows that life exists on Earth –Oceans, Rainforests, SLIMES (subsurface lithoautotrophic microbial ecosystems), etc.

Biodiversity Three levels Three levels –Top Level Ecosystems Ecosystems –Rainforests, coral reefs, and lakes –Middle Level Species Species –Live in the ecosystems –Bottom Level Genes Genes –Heredity of individuals

The Bottleneck Universal Environmental ethic Universal Environmental ethic Environmentalist Environmentalist –Concerned with “unsustainable crop yields, overdrawn aquifers, and threatened ecosystems” (24) Economist Economist –Concerned with production and consumption

Nature’s Last Stand Wealth of the world is rising Wealth of the world is rising Biodiversity is decreasing Biodiversity is decreasing –Rainforest deforestation, greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, etc. –Endangered species and extinct species

Growing Human Population Humans occupy the entire habitable Earth Humans occupy the entire habitable Earth Lifespan is increasing Lifespan is increasing Birth rate is decreasing Birth rate is decreasing Technology allows scientist to cure diseases and genetically modify organisms Technology allows scientist to cure diseases and genetically modify organisms Genetic diversity is increasing through interracial marriage Genetic diversity is increasing through interracial marriage Why is the biodiversity continuing to decrease? Why is the biodiversity continuing to decrease?

HIPPO Habitat Destruction Habitat Destruction Invasive species Invasive species Pollution Pollution Population Population Overharvesting Overharvesting

The Planetary Killer Wilson labels Humans as the planetary killer Wilson labels Humans as the planetary killer –Extinction of species is correlated to human arrival Example- Example- –Sumatran Rhinos- being poached for their tusks (valuable/ profitable) –Megafauna disappeared to make homes, furniture, farmland, etc for humans

World Conservation Union RED LIST Method to determine endangered species status: Method to determine endangered species status: –The relation between the area of a habitat and the number of species it can support –To track the descent of species through the Red Lists over a period of years –To analyze the survival possibilities of the species in the different Red List categories Population Viability Analysis Population Viability Analysis

How Much is the Biosphere Worth? Ecosystems are important for human existence Ecosystems are important for human existence Humans have interfered with nature’s natural resources Humans have interfered with nature’s natural resources –Catskill Mountain

BIODEPTH Productivity rises with biodiversity Productivity rises with biodiversity “Overyielding” “Overyielding” Nature has ecosystem engineers Nature has ecosystem engineers –Promote harmony within ecosystems Humans are also ecosystem engineers Humans are also ecosystem engineers –Eliminate more niches than we create –“We drive species and ecosystems into extinction at a far higher rate than existed before and everywhere diminish productivity and stability.” (112)

Bioprospecting “Exploration of wild biodiversity in search of useful resources” (124) “Exploration of wild biodiversity in search of useful resources” (124) Means for discovering new products Means for discovering new products Way of the future Way of the future Native people from the tropical rainforests contribute to the richness of biodiversity Native people from the tropical rainforests contribute to the richness of biodiversity –Low technology and local knowledge

The Solution Although capital wealth is rising, the natural nonrenewable resources are decreasing essentially causing decapitalization Although capital wealth is rising, the natural nonrenewable resources are decreasing essentially causing decapitalization To save the biodiversity, Wilson recommends investigating human ethics To save the biodiversity, Wilson recommends investigating human ethics –Humans think in short term while we need to focus on the long term effects we are having on the Earth

Patriarch Bartholomew ● “For humans to cause a species to become extinct and to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation, for humans to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests, or destroying its wetlands, for humans to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air and its life with poisonous substances, these are sins.” (158)

The Solution Global Conservation requires three agents to work together: Global Conservation requires three agents to work together: –Private Sector –Government –Science and Technology Create nature reserves to prevent habitat destruction and species extinctionCreate nature reserves to prevent habitat destruction and species extinction Kyoto Climate ProtocolKyoto Climate Protocol Reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases Reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases

Nongovernmental agents are necessary for global conservation (NGO) Conservation International Conservation International Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Conservation Society World Wide Fund for Nature World Wide Fund for Nature World Wildlife Fund- US World Wildlife Fund- US The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy –Devoted to humanitarian and/or environmental causes

Wilson’s Solution NGOs and the government work together to save the planet NGOs and the government work together to save the planet Wilson says that the planet can be saved based on ethical decisions Wilson says that the planet can be saved based on ethical decisions