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submitted 2 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] bluewing@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

It's a nice idea. But I wonder what the long term ramifications might be. What ripple effects might happen that we can't see today that end up being problems in the future.

Human history is littered with such problems.

[-] meliaesc@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There have been extensive studies done on the topic already, the planet does not need mosquitos.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-mosquitoes-went-extinct.htm

https://www.nicd.ac.za/what-would-happen-if-all-the-mosquitoes-in-the-world-disappeared/

[-] Klear@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

While some species may benefit from the absence of mosquitoes, others could face ecological disruptions due to changes in food webs.

However, eliminating mosquitoes entirely could also have unforeseen consequences, highlighting the importance of careful consideration and scientific research.

Other people have asked the same question you have, Niko, and scientists think that removing every single mosquito from the world wouldn’t have a bad overall effect on the environment. But none of us are sure what will happen to small ecosystems and whether these would be better off without mosquitoes.

The science is not really settled yet.

[-] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

There are non-biting mosquitoes. Those would just fill the same ecological niche.

[-] bluewing@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

Yes I know. And maybe those studies are fully correct. I certainly have no way to cross check them. So you and I must take them at face value.

But even science will tell you that you should have at least some skepticism of such studies. Because it always seems like we miss some tiny important detail that only reveals it's self later as we refine our knowledge on a subject.

[-] sazey@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I am all for eradicating the mosquito pest but there is no way a study is going to cover all possible impacts of removing them from existence. Anyone claiming to do so is just drunk on hubris.

[-] meliaesc@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

The amount of ecologically horrifying acts that our species has already done, I'd be willing to add "got rid of mosquitos" to the pile.

[-] bluewing@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

If you're fine with the risk of a possible ecological disaster, then kill them all off. But remember, killing all the wolves was also thought to be a great idea at one time. Fortunately, we weren't able to achieve that goal before discovering we were wrong. Such decisions are final and can't be undone if they go wrong.

The hubris is in the idea, that with such a long human track record of being wrong about such things, is executing a such total and final idea is the right thing to do. But go ahead and do it. I'll be safely dead when the error might be discovered.