Wicked parthenogenetic scorpions
February 19, 2019 12:04 PM Subscribe
"Statewide, scorpion stings have increased threefold over the last two decades.
[...]Wicked problems are a symptom of numerous other related problems, both natural and human-made. In this case, Brazil’s urban scorpion infestation is the result of poor garbage management, inadequate sanitation, rapid urbanization and a changing climate.
It is likely too late to stop the spread of scorpions across Brazilian cities."
[...]Wicked problems are a symptom of numerous other related problems, both natural and human-made. In this case, Brazil’s urban scorpion infestation is the result of poor garbage management, inadequate sanitation, rapid urbanization and a changing climate.
It is likely too late to stop the spread of scorpions across Brazilian cities."
posted by Fizz at 12:31 PM on February 19, 2019 [12 favorites]
The author suggests that this problem is intractable, but says that:
Brazil’s urban scorpion infestation is the result of poor garbage management, inadequate sanitation, rapid urbanization and a changing climate
It sure sounds like two of those causes are addressable (though expensive) and are things you would want to fix even without the scorpion problem as an impetus. I only know what I just read in the article, but that sure sounds like an obvious path to managing the problem. I guess this is what he means by saying that the problem can only be managed, not solved, though.
posted by agentofselection at 1:05 PM on February 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Brazil’s urban scorpion infestation is the result of poor garbage management, inadequate sanitation, rapid urbanization and a changing climate
It sure sounds like two of those causes are addressable (though expensive) and are things you would want to fix even without the scorpion problem as an impetus. I only know what I just read in the article, but that sure sounds like an obvious path to managing the problem. I guess this is what he means by saying that the problem can only be managed, not solved, though.
posted by agentofselection at 1:05 PM on February 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
It seems to me that a parthenogenic organism would have limited genetic variability, and thus would be more vulnerable to a biological treatment, such as a pathogen, or parasite. But maybe the species has a way to compensate for that, I don't know. In any case, it seems daunting, but not impossible.
posted by ambulocetus at 5:50 AM on February 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ambulocetus at 5:50 AM on February 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
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