Why We May No Longer Be at the Top of the Food Chain

I guess we won’t be for long if the anti-human league and the climate change alarmists have their way.

Put yourself in the middle of the ocean with no boat, just a life vest. All of a sudden, you’re no longer at the top. Or, picture yourself in the Arctic Circle next to polar bears. You’re at the bottom of the food chain.

No, we are only at the top because of the areas where we choose to live. Historically, our dominance has been more a result of our choices than an inherent superiority over other creatures.

Our Ascension to the Top of the Food Chain

As humans, we have ascended to the top of the food chain due to our ability to kill. However, we are still being fed off by various predators and parasites that have evolved to live with and feed from us rather than kill us outright.

Here are a few examples:

H. Pylori: A nasty organism that lives in the human intestine despite the presence of dilute hydrochloric acid. This bacterial strain has existed for a long time and contributes to issues such as internal bleeding, ulcers, and other health problems. Bed Bugs: These blood-sucking parasites originally fed off bats. When humans started dwelling in structures, some bats took residence in the eaves. The bed bugs found another warm-blooded host and stayed to reproduce. Pigeons: In the cities, pigeons have become a common sight. Cities provide plenty of shelter, readily available food sources, and freedom from most predators. In the wild, pigeons are wary and elusive, as they need to be concerned with predators such as hawks.

While not a parasite, cities also host pigeons which have adapted to urban environments due to easy access to food and shelter.

Predation and Parasitism

However, for macro predation, we must acknowledge that we are one of the better killers. Tools like guns, knives, and spears have revolutionized our ability to hunt and kill effectively. Still, this does not guarantee our dominance over the food chain. For example, in the ocean, a shark sees you much the same as a bear in the woods would.

Many diseases require a human host to live and reproduce. Diseases like HIV and syphilis persist because they depend on humans for their survival. Nevertheless, when it comes to macro predation, our better killing abilities have kept us at the top.

It’s when we start looking at the bigger picture and the changes in our environment that the question arises: Are we truly at the top of the food chain?

Enter environmental changes and the potential rise of new predators.

With climate change, wildlife habitats are changing. New predators might emerge as the environment shifts. Species that were once confined to specific regions may now find new territories, adapting to new ecosystems. This could disrupt the current balance of power in the food chain.

Moreover, human encroachment into natural habitats forces animals to adapt or face extinction. This often leads to new competitive pressures that could challenge our current position. Certain parasitic organisms are also evolving with us, altering the rules of the game.

In conclusion, our status at the top of the food chain is not guaranteed. While we remain formidable hunters, the changing environment and the evolving nature of predators and parasites present significant challenges. It’s a complex and evolving situation that demands ongoing attention and adaptation.