Biodiversity

December 1 2008--It all started with listening to an airing of an NPR interview with famed biologist EO Wilson (Harvard University). Then we heard the Spring peepers in Florida's late fall (are they called Autumnal peepers down here?).

Among other things, EO Wilson has been tagged (by famed, late environmentalist David Brower, no less) with having stated that the carrying capacity of the planet (Earth, that is) is about 6 million people. Dr. Wilson never verified making that statement, but never denied it either. Right now, the Earth's human population is estimated to be 6,740,545,621 (see World Population Clock), and growing. That is over 1000 times greater than what some believe the carrying capacity of the world may be. And the impact on the world's biodiversity has been devastating.

As we travel through the southeastern US states (some of the most diverse in the country), we're going to share with you our observations of what we've seen and also some of our crazy theories on why we're seeing what we've seen (and not seen).

The basis of this blog came from two recent experiences: the first being Debbie's thought that the diversity of seashells on Sanibel is limited to clams and scallops (largely) because of global warming. The second was caused by Mike flipping through a book at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Gift Shop on the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. I (mb) can't comment intelligently on the presence or absence of shells of certain sea creatures. However, I do know that the Ivory Billed Woodpecker is considered by many ornithologists as the Holy Grail of birding. Problem is that for nearly a century it was thought to be extinct. Then a few individuals were thought to be living in Cuba. THEN, an actual siting was claimed to have been made in the Big Woods of Arkansas in 2004.

To put this in perspective, the IVW is in the same category as the Passenger Pigeon, California Condor, and Bald Eagle. Majestic almost mythical birds that have gone or almost gone extinct. Our ability as humans to secure a future for the planet goes way beyond increasing fuel consumption a measly few gallons a mile, or only washing hotel sheets once during a stay, or recycling. It goes deeply into exploring our connection to the Earth and recognizing that while the Earth's creatures are severely impacted by our presence, were we to disappear, they simply wouldn't care and could perhaps once again thrive.

OK, enough soapbox. We're going to document and report on the biodiversity we see from here on out, as we pass through perhaps the last remaining lands of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker into the possible new home of the Mexican jaguar. Edward O. Wilson, referring to ants, once said that "Karl Marx was right, socialism works, it is just that he had the wrong species." Hallelujah!

For the Wild!

Mike