this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2024
734 points (96.9% liked)

Science Memes

10652 readers
3594 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.


Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Dabundis@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (3 children)

If we were to somehow magically remove mosquitos from existence in an instant, we'd better hope something fills their ecological niche quickly

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Nothing eats them exclusively, that I know of. And they're tiny. Any insectivore is getting far more nutrition out of about anything else.

Maybe I'm wrong, but biologists seem to think eradication is a non-issue.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 4 points 2 days ago

I think the purpose of the original genetic modification is to make them unable to bite humans (and spread malaria) but to otherwise leave them capable of feeding, thus not wiping them out and upsetting the ecosystem they're part of

[–] MelastSB@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That niche being flying bloodsucker? I'm not sure the alternative will be any better

[–] Dabundis@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

The niche being food for fish that share their ecosystem in larval stages, and birds/bats/frogs that share their ecosystem in their adult stage.