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Where exactly do you think we lie on the food chain? Some say our trophic level is similar to pigs or anchovies since we're omnivores. Others say we're obviousl

Where exactly do you think we lie on the food chain? Some say our trophic level is similar to pigs or anchovies since we're omnivores. Others say we're obviously at the top due to our intelligence. I ask this question not as a way to debate jargon, but rather to think about our primeval place amongst other animals. Where do our survival instincts kick in? Why is my son always trying to play-flee from me?

marcosdumay 2y ago
"Food chain" is an unreasonable simplification destined to teach some concepts, and not something that exists and can be reasoned about. (In fact, it's mostly not even used to teach anymore, because it wasn't helpful even for that.)
- cynicalpeace 2y ago
  "not as a way to debate jargon, but rather to think about our primeval place amongst other animals"
  - marcosdumay 2y ago
    "Not to debate jargon, but how does that completely artificial jargon-only concept fits on the natural world?" That's not a question that can be answered.
    - cynicalpeace 2y ago
      Where does that quote come from? I also asked several questions.
HPsquared 2y ago
It's not a linear thing. It's a network, probably not even acyclic.
_yb2s 2y ago
It's all situational- any predator will eat another one when it has the advantage. No animal comes close to equaling humans as predators at the top of our game as hunters- e.g. young healthy adults working together as a team with well made weapons, a coordinated strategy, local knowledge, and hard won experience. But as this article shows, there are plenty of situations where these advantages don't apply. For the most part, predators generally dislike trying to eat each other unless all other options are exhausted, as it is much safer and easier to go after things that have less of a chance of turning the tables on you. I am a freediver that dives mostly in a place with a lot of white sharks, and contrary to popular stereotypes, they're actually quite afraid of, and keep their distance from humans. Rare attacks seem to occur when there is some situation that visually confuses them, and they mistake us for one of their common prey animals.

marcosdumay 2y ago

"Food chain" is an unreasonable simplification destined to teach some concepts, and not something that exists and can be reasoned about. (In fact, it's mostly not even used to teach anymore, because it wasn't helpful even for that.)

cynicalpeace 2y ago
"not as a way to debate jargon, but rather to think about our primeval place amongst other animals"
- marcosdumay 2y ago
  "Not to debate jargon, but how does that completely artificial jargon-only concept fits on the natural world?" That's not a question that can be answered.
  - cynicalpeace 2y ago
    Where does that quote come from? I also asked several questions.

HPsquared 2y ago

It's not a linear thing. It's a network, probably not even acyclic.

_yb2s 2y ago

It's all situational- any predator will eat another one when it has the advantage. No animal comes close to equaling humans as predators at the top of our game as hunters- e.g. young healthy adults working together as a team with well made weapons, a coordinated strategy, local knowledge, and hard won experience. But as this article shows, there are plenty of situations where these advantages don't apply. For the most part, predators generally dislike trying to eat each other unless all other options are exhausted, as it is much safer and easier to go after things that have less of a chance of turning the tables on you. I am a freediver that dives mostly in a place with a lot of white sharks, and contrary to popular stereotypes, they're actually quite afraid of, and keep their distance from humans. Rare attacks seem to occur when there is some situation that visually confuses them, and they mistake us for one of their common prey animals.