fossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 2 months agoHorrors We've Unleashedmander.xyzimagemessage-square221fedilinkarrow-up1791arrow-down125
arrow-up1766arrow-down1imageHorrors We've Unleashedmander.xyzfossilesque@mander.xyzM to Science Memes@mander.xyzEnglish · 2 months agomessage-square221fedilink
minus-squareDabundis@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up10arrow-down5·2 months agoIf we were to somehow magically remove mosquitos from existence in an instant, we’d better hope something fills their ecological niche quickly
minus-squareshalafi@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up17arrow-down1·2 months agoNothing eats them exclusively, that I know of. And they’re tiny. Any insectivore is getting far more nutrition out of about anything else. Maybe I’m wrong, but biologists seem to think eradication is a non-issue.
minus-squaresmeg@feddit.uklinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up6arrow-down1·2 months agoI think the purpose of the original genetic modification is to make them unable to bite humans (and spread malaria) but to otherwise leave them capable of feeding, thus not wiping them out and upsetting the ecosystem they’re part of
minus-squareMelastSB@sh.itjust.workslinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up3arrow-down1·2 months agoThat niche being flying bloodsucker? I’m not sure the alternative will be any better
minus-squareDabundis@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up11arrow-down3·2 months agoThe niche being food for fish that share their ecosystem in larval stages, and birds/bats/frogs that share their ecosystem in their adult stage.
If we were to somehow magically remove mosquitos from existence in an instant, we’d better hope something fills their ecological niche quickly
Nothing eats them exclusively, that I know of. And they’re tiny. Any insectivore is getting far more nutrition out of about anything else.
Maybe I’m wrong, but biologists seem to think eradication is a non-issue.
I think the purpose of the original genetic modification is to make them unable to bite humans (and spread malaria) but to otherwise leave them capable of feeding, thus not wiping them out and upsetting the ecosystem they’re part of
That niche being flying bloodsucker? I’m not sure the alternative will be any better
The niche being food for fish that share their ecosystem in larval stages, and birds/bats/frogs that share their ecosystem in their adult stage.