Decline of Indian vultures

aurareturn wrote: post #2

Question: Did another animal take the role of the vultures? Nature is very efficient. If there opportunity, it seems like some animals might evolve to fill that role.

Evolution takes long time.

But to answer your question: wild dogs. But in India they spread rabies and other diseases, attack and kill people. And their excrements are highly toxic, and kill plants (unlike vultures).

Nature is not always efficient.

Re: Decline of Indian vultures

#6

Post by shiroiushi » Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 8:25 AM UTC

trte9343r4 wrote: post #5

aurareturn wrote: post #2

Question: Did another animal take the role of the vultures? Nature is very efficient. If there opportunity, it seems like some animals might evolve to fill that role.

Evolution takes long time. But to answer your question: wild dogs. But in India they spread rabies and other diseases, attack and kill people. And their excrements are highly toxic, and kill plants (unlike vultures). Nature is not always efficient.

>But to answer your question: wild dogs. But in India they spread rabies and other diseases, attack and kill people.

I think the other issue here is that those wild dogs are highly protected by law, even when they do spread rabies and attack and kill people.

Re: Decline of Indian vultures

#7

Post by bryanrasmussen » Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 8:41 AM UTC

trte9343r4 wrote: post #5

aurareturn wrote: post #2

Question: Did another animal take the role of the vultures? Nature is very efficient. If there opportunity, it seems like some animals might evolve to fill that role.

Evolution takes long time. But to answer your question: wild dogs. But in India they spread rabies and other diseases, attack and kill people. And their excrements are highly toxic, and kill plants (unlike vultures). Nature is not always efficient.

Nature is reasonably efficient for the goals of nature, but the goals of humanity do not often align with Nature's.

Re: Decline of Indian vultures

#8

Post by 4ggr0 » Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 9:03 AM UTC

It's fascinating and tragic how AI generated comments are obviously present in this comment section. Anyone else find it unsurprising that this happens?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41078496

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41095522

Re: Decline of Indian vultures

#9

Post by gala8y » Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 9:06 AM UTC

4ggr0 wrote: post #8

It's fascinating and tragic how AI generated comments are obviously present in this comment section. Anyone else find it unsurprising that this happens? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41078496 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41095522

Oh... why... oh why... I will never understand such behavior. What are incentives here?

Re: Decline of Indian vultures

#10

Post by jna_sh » Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 9:11 AM UTC

If any readers want to explore this topic more, a useful term is “ecosystem services”, which captures the various ways that healthy ecosystems support human health.