Saying that "bugs/insects" are the dominant "species" is incorrect--they aren't one species, or even one family. You're comparing a huge, diverse group of many creatures to just a single species, us.
On earth, human beings certainly don't constitute the greater part of the biomass. Nor are they more numerous than a lot of species.
But if you were an alien and came to earth, what would you notice in terms of life? You'd see whales in the ocean, trees in the forest, you'd see many different species in different environments. But you'd see evidence of man all over. Satellites and space junk orbit the planet, our cities completely transform landscapes, our garbage lands on the most remote shores of the ocean, our electric lights can be seen in the night. We use other species on a massive scale, we grow and breed crops and cattle. And human beings live in diverse habitats, more so than most other single species.
Prove that we are.
Counterpoint 1: each and every human being on the planet is carrying trillions of individual E. coli cells. So numerically, E. coli is FAR more dominant than we are.
I've got plenty more if needed.
Come on guys, stop saying things like "prove that we are" and all that jazz, you KNOW that we are.
We control the weather in our homes and we are in no danger of being eaten by something else.
So what if there are more insects or more bacterias or whatever. They aren't owning the planet. They have to work around us.
We are the masters of the Earth. Maybe not of the Ocean, but who cares about that?
Anyways, it is a catch 22. If we weren't Earth's dominant species, we couldn't even be asking that question. We are because that is how it ended up. If a different species had managed what we have, then they would be asking why.
It is just luck and good timing.
First, you need to define what you mean by "dominant species". Who is considered dominant, and why?
Is the species with the greatest number of individuals dominant? In that case some species of bacteria, insects, etc. win over people.
Is the species that had the most impact on the biosphere in the shortest amount of time dominant? In that case, human are; they've changed the landscape more than any other species.
Is it the strongest, fastest, (etc) species? Humans are certainly not stronger or faster than other species.
Is it the most intelligent? In that aspect we do win, as we are able to perform tasks no other species on the planet is able to..
So think about what you mean by dominant first.
On what basis do you claim to be "Earth's dominant species"?
yes
