World Human and Animal Biomass data

[GliderGuider]

This is the data I used to assemble the biomass graphic:



And is the resulting graphic:



I figure the error bars on the human and domesticated animal data are on the order of +/- 15%. The error bars on the wild animal data are about +/- 30% (though +/- 30% of sweet fuck-all makes not a whiff of difference to the outcome.)

The wild animal biomass for 10,000 BCE was estimated as being six times Smil's estimate for wild animals in 1900, plus a bit for 4 million humans.

Human population growth is adding 4.5 MT of biomass each year. That growth currently requires the addition of 15 MT of domesticated animals as a support system. So human population growth adds almost 20 million tonnes of biomass to the planet every year.

Is it any wonder that the wild animal populations are practically gone?

[NYC_SKP]

1. There is a pestilence upon this planet; a species that has vastly overbred.

Mother Nature has a way of handling these things.

Since we seem unlikely to do what is needed ourselves, rest assured that some changes are coming and they aren't likely to be pleasant.

[ladjf]

2. Hmn. I think you might be on to something here. nt

[progree]

3. Alarmist hogwash. Our infinitely loving & merciful God won't allow us to destroy ourselves

Almighty God ordered us to be fruitful and multiply. Are you one of them thar anti-God "intellectuals"?

Here, this dot video of population growth will make you feel a whole lot better, so relax.

[font color = "gray", size = 1]{sarcasm thingy}[/font]

A dot video of population growth. A world map beginning in 1 A.D. with 1 dot = 1 million people
http://www.populationconnection.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_main

It is about 6 1/2 minutes long but you can skip the first 2 minutes -- the actual dot stuff begins at 2:00 and ends at 5:42. At 5:00 have reached about 1600 A.D. while the population is still quite modest outside of India and China. (So if you are in a time bind, you can start at 5:00 and watch just the last 42 seconds) "As the film neared present day and the dots started flying onto the screen, there were audible gasps, wide staring eyes, and mumblings of "no way" and "I knew we were growing but not THAT much."

[GliderGuider]

4. OK, that even startled ME!

It really drives the point home. Thanks for sharing it.

[GliderGuider]

5. Why did I think of petri dishes as I watched it???

[progree]

7. Yes, an excellent analogy :-)

[hunter]

6. I eagerly await cheap fusion power...

... so we can turn the entire biosphere into a great throbbing mass of humans.

[mackdaddy]

8. Soylent Green is PEOPLE!

Could not help it. But really those little dot may start winking out pretty fast in the next few decades.