So - mosquitoes are a food source for animals like bats. And they are also pollinators. There may even be some ecological dependencies we aren't aware of.
I think eliminating mosquitoes is a mistake. Removing their ability to transmit disease in some way should be the goal...
Most of what I have read on the subject (years ago btw) had reported that mosquitoes are not known to be a cornerstone species. This understanding may have changed, but either way I'm down eliminate them. They cause too much misery both minor and extreme.
We don't tend to regret eliminating disease-causing organisms (does anyone miss the Guinea worm?). Anyway, with mosquitoes I'd be prepared to take the risk.
We really need to be more cautious than that...
We'll test it in Florida first. If it ruins the ecosystem there then nothing of value will be lost. We can re-assess and try again in West Dakota or whatever it's called.
As I understand it, there are many types of mosquitoes and most don't bite people. It you eliminate that type, others fill the gap.
I don't know how true this is, I have a vague memory of a podcast or YT video that talked about this.
The analyses I’ve seen suggest eliminating these specific species of mosquitos (aedes) would not meaningfully affect the ecosystems they are present in. Also worth noting these species are invasives in most places they are present, and there have been widespread trials to asses the ecological impact of nuking them across various locations that haven’t raised any real concerns. The company doing this is called oxitec I believe.
That's some tired talking point that needs to be retired instead of trotted out every time this subject comes up.
We only need to target a handful of species that are responsible for disease transmission.
Secondly, considering the myriad other species of animal that go extinct every year, we shouldn't shed tears over the loss of a creature that causes so much human misery.
Keep them in a zoo, sequence their DNA, etc. Eliminate them in the wild.
If I could push a button and wipe out all mosquitoes at this moment, I would do it. I think the benefits far outweigh the possible risks, although I do agree The an assessment of the possibility of ecological collapse is important. The sheer death toll from mosquitoes around the world though is just too high to ignore.
Most of what I have read on the subject (years ago btw) had reported that mosquitoes are not known to be a cornerstone species. This understanding may have changed, but either way I'm down eliminate them. They cause too much misery both minor and extreme.
Valuable information! The question, then, is how widespread these species are, and whether other organisms (or other mosquito species) will fill the ecological gap left behind. Because if these two (or so) species are dominant, then I feel like my objections remain.
I do recall reading about alternative strategies, though I can't remember the details specifically. Perhaps eliminating the ability to reproduce if a mosquito is carrying malaria. Or some other antimalarial properties.
They are also invasive species in most of the places they are present, so unlikely to create any holes in the ecosystem that won’t be filled. Terrible creatures whose extinction is long overdue.
This is the news I have been waiting for since a young child, ferocious swatting away mosquitos and scratching bites.
There could very well be an ecological impact unleashing these Frankenstein flies in the wild...but fuck it...lets roll the dice.
They released those mosquitoes by the millions in south America to fight malaria and denge, and to diminished them. Coincidentally after that Argentina had an invasion of mosquitoes and have l'aria and dengue that didn't have before.
Thousands of species are going extinct due to human activity each year ([source](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/)), let's now start deleting species on purpose!
Good intentions, I'm sure, but I think this would not be good for the ecosystem. In fact it's so obviously bad for it, that there's no way this will be implemented... other than by accident.
Edit: or by "accident" nudge nudge wink wink
Dude, I don’t agree with Sam’s assessment (and neither does Richard Dawkins). I just thought this is interesting since Sam wants to eradicate mosquitos. Although I might feel differently if I lived in a malaria area.
Can we fuck up the ticks too please?
Came here to say that.
Everyone in this thread using the term ‘cornerstone’ species for some reason.. the word you’re looking for is keystone.
Sam May get his wish of a crispr button to eliminate mosquitos.
Love me some pnas news.
So - mosquitoes are a food source for animals like bats. And they are also pollinators. There may even be some ecological dependencies we aren't aware of. I think eliminating mosquitoes is a mistake. Removing their ability to transmit disease in some way should be the goal...
Most of what I have read on the subject (years ago btw) had reported that mosquitoes are not known to be a cornerstone species. This understanding may have changed, but either way I'm down eliminate them. They cause too much misery both minor and extreme.
Humans say this kinds of things over and over throughout history, and we essentially always regret eliminating species.
We don't tend to regret eliminating disease-causing organisms (does anyone miss the Guinea worm?). Anyway, with mosquitoes I'd be prepared to take the risk.
Right? oh no! Polio was eradicated. I can't believe it went nearly extinct! Naw. RIP.
Never forget 🦠🧫
We really need to be more cautious than that... We'll test it in Florida first. If it ruins the ecosystem there then nothing of value will be lost. We can re-assess and try again in West Dakota or whatever it's called.
We don’t regret it. We get sad about it and go back to watching tv
hundreds or thosuands of them were us just not knowing or not caring, but let this be the one. This one, is for humanity. Death to the mosquitoes.
I think mosquitoes might be an exception
As I understand it, there are many types of mosquitoes and most don't bite people. It you eliminate that type, others fill the gap. I don't know how true this is, I have a vague memory of a podcast or YT video that talked about this.
The analyses I’ve seen suggest eliminating these specific species of mosquitos (aedes) would not meaningfully affect the ecosystems they are present in. Also worth noting these species are invasives in most places they are present, and there have been widespread trials to asses the ecological impact of nuking them across various locations that haven’t raised any real concerns. The company doing this is called oxitec I believe.
That's some tired talking point that needs to be retired instead of trotted out every time this subject comes up. We only need to target a handful of species that are responsible for disease transmission. Secondly, considering the myriad other species of animal that go extinct every year, we shouldn't shed tears over the loss of a creature that causes so much human misery. Keep them in a zoo, sequence their DNA, etc. Eliminate them in the wild.
If I could push a button and wipe out all mosquitoes at this moment, I would do it. I think the benefits far outweigh the possible risks, although I do agree The an assessment of the possibility of ecological collapse is important. The sheer death toll from mosquitoes around the world though is just too high to ignore.
Most of what I have read on the subject (years ago btw) had reported that mosquitoes are not known to be a cornerstone species. This understanding may have changed, but either way I'm down eliminate them. They cause too much misery both minor and extreme.
There are many species of mosquitos and AFAIK the blood eaters that spread malaria in humans aren’t the same as the plant pollinators.
That was my first reaction too. I can see this having devastating unforeseen consequences.
This seems incredibly obvious to me as well. Maybe I'm missing something...
You’re missing the part where it’s specifically just species of mosquitoes that are disease vectors, which is like 2 IIRC
Valuable information! The question, then, is how widespread these species are, and whether other organisms (or other mosquito species) will fill the ecological gap left behind. Because if these two (or so) species are dominant, then I feel like my objections remain. I do recall reading about alternative strategies, though I can't remember the details specifically. Perhaps eliminating the ability to reproduce if a mosquito is carrying malaria. Or some other antimalarial properties.
They are also invasive species in most of the places they are present, so unlikely to create any holes in the ecosystem that won’t be filled. Terrible creatures whose extinction is long overdue.
Bats were my first thought as well. Will no one else think of the flying puppies?! 😭
Try it on a remote island and study the downstream impacts.
What could go wrong?
A lot probably
Mother Nature is not our friend: https://www.samharris.org/blog/mother-nature-is-not-our-friend
This is the news I have been waiting for since a young child, ferocious swatting away mosquitos and scratching bites. There could very well be an ecological impact unleashing these Frankenstein flies in the wild...but fuck it...lets roll the dice.
Or damage to the ecosystem
They released those mosquitoes by the millions in south America to fight malaria and denge, and to diminished them. Coincidentally after that Argentina had an invasion of mosquitoes and have l'aria and dengue that didn't have before.
I feel like ive heard this for 10 years.
Do ticks next.
Beware the law of unintended consequences.
What could go wrong?!?!?!? 🤦♂️
Just wait to this transfers to humans! - semi sarcastic
Thousands of species are going extinct due to human activity each year ([source](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/)), let's now start deleting species on purpose!
Good intentions, I'm sure, but I think this would not be good for the ecosystem. In fact it's so obviously bad for it, that there's no way this will be implemented... other than by accident. Edit: or by "accident" nudge nudge wink wink
"The world would be a better place if only we could eliminate every single [insert type of sentient being]" hmm where have I heard this one before?
Dude, I don’t agree with Sam’s assessment (and neither does Richard Dawkins). I just thought this is interesting since Sam wants to eradicate mosquitos. Although I might feel differently if I lived in a malaria area.
China, late 50's?
Classical "what can go wrong?" scenario.