This came out of the bull fighting thread, but who or what are the dominant species on this planet.
Contemporary understanding of this would assume that the human race is the dominant species, but are we, how should we measure the requirements to be labelled as such.
Certainly if we look at the kingdom provided by mother nature, then using sheer numbers, many species from the insect world, possibly bird world and probably aquatics would be considered more dominant.
If we look at ability to think and communicate, ie brain power, then again, would the human race be dominant, under our current levels of understanding of all other species then answer probably has to be yes.
I prefer to determine the dominant species, as the one that has the most control over not only its own environment, but all those around, including the entire earth, for both the detriment and the good of all other species.
On that basis, it is my feeling that the human race is the dominent species, but what say you ?