[rhlopez]

Ricardo Hernandez  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Chris,

Excellent show!

Again one more question:

Was there more life forms before (diversity-wise - let's say in the Jurassic or before) or now we have more life forms?

What about the volume? strange question, in terms of volume was there more volume of living things on earth before or now?

Is there any pattern?

How to know?

Thanks!!

Ricardo

What do you think?

[tangoblue]

I would hazzard a guess at saying there are more species now because of evolution and humans e.g with dogs. As for volume i have no idea.

[echochartruse]

I would say there are less species today as compared with say, yesterday. As we hear of species extinction that is happening daily.

Probably years ago was less dense, not forgetting there were wild dogs and other preditors then and a balance for food between species would have balanced out species.

Taking into account that humans control more habitats today resulting in non inhabitable regions even though the human population is rapidly growing itself, I still think there would be more species then.

Similar density now to then. Civilization rose and fell. More people now less flocks of birds and herds of wild animals.

Just my thoughts