Natural Selection

Throughout the science unit, we have discussed in class humans’ role and interaction with nature. However, some things we did not touch on include our rule in natural selection. Depending on your views, it can be argued that humans interfere and unbalance natural selection of other species.
Humans unbalance natural selection, by changing the behavior and environment of other species. Deforestation and human expansion has limited the area and resource animals have available to them in order to survive. Pollution has also had a strong impact on other species, damaging drinking water and poisoning some animals.
Behavior is changed by humans through domestication among other things. House cats and dogs are not likely to improve through natural selection, when they are dependent on humans to survive. Humans impact sexual selection, by breeding in order to promote traits they desire, and not ones that will necessarily be beneficial to the species.
Overall, humans are the only species to have such a widespread impact on other species. Some may argue that humans are only acting as a part of natural selection. However, much of the impact humanity has had has been negative. Hopefully, in the future humanity will be able to positively effect the environment and other species.