2006-10-09 06:48:07 · 16 answers · asked by nadia 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
All these answers, and nobody asks the obvious:
Is there a scientific definition of "dominant species"?
It certainly doesn't mean "most numerous" ... we aren't even close. Similarly, it doesn't mean "most biomass". It doesn't mean biggest, or fastest, or meanest. If "dominant" means we can kill all other species at will, then (1) is that a title to be proud of? and (2) a number of bacteria and even viruses, are ready to remind us who is *really* dominant.
Heck, in the map of life, the entire animal kingdom is just a twig on the branch of eukaryotes (in between plants and fungi). The vast majority of life on this planet is microscopic.
Does it not occur to people that we like to call ourselves the "dominant species" simply because we can. It goes back to the biblical concept of "dominion" ... which comes from the same hubris as the Judaic scriptures calling Jews "the chosen people", or Christian fundamentalism insisting that Christians hold a special place over the unsaved, or Islamic fundamentalists believing that Muslim believers have a special place over infidels.
Part of the purpose of any scripture is to tell believers that they are special.
So the hubris of "dominion" (and "dominant") is a byproduct of scripture ...
... not science.
BUT, that said, my vote would be ants. They're freakin' *everywhere*.
2006-10-09 07:24:24 · answer #1 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Humans didnt exist 100Million years ago and there was no dominant species back then.
Probably dinosaurs. But I think apes would be the dominant species. In particular Gorillas......
2006-10-09 06:52:04 · answer #2 · answered by esb016 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the dominant species would be Cats. Any type of cats, but cats all the same.
2006-10-09 06:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by Darkingfire 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asians are wonderful people but there is only one species of humans and that certainly includes Asian. It is not funny if this is a joke. It is just too ignorant.
2016-03-28 02:45:26 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Primates
2006-10-09 06:55:41 · answer #5 · answered by smecky809042003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dolphins!
2006-10-09 06:50:17 · answer #6 · answered by Gabrio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cockroaches are among the oldest animals on the earth. they are so fit the they haven't evolved in millions of years. Perhaps they would rule the earth sans humanbeings
2006-10-09 06:54:47 · answer #7 · answered by abhi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are dominant because we are the biggest predators. I believe the fiercest predators would be Sharks and Felines.
2006-10-09 06:57:43 · answer #8 · answered by natarrenata 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sharks would rule the world♥
2006-10-09 06:50:30 · answer #9 · answered by ♥USMCwife♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Algae...even now, there is more algae by weight than humans.
2006-10-09 07:33:06 · answer #10 · answered by leikevy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋