Anthropogenic biomes are human-influenced biomes, including dense settlements, villages, croplands, grasslands, and forest biomes. They have their own flora and fauna, with many dangerous animals eliminated and successful animals including birds, squirrels, and raccoons. Animals allied to humans are the biggest winners, while those subjugated for food are the biggest losers.
Anthropogenic (“man-made”) biomes are biomes, such as jungle or desert, that consist primarily of human-influenced features. The five major anthropogenic biomes are dense settlements, villages, croplands, grasslands, and forest biomes. Anthropogenic biomes may also be known as “anthromes” or “human biomes”. Since widespread industrialization in the 18th century, anthropogenic biomes have been their own distinct and quite large biome, right next to more traditional biomes.
Like traditional biomes, anthropogenic biomes have their own flora, fauna and landscapes. In anthropogenic biomes, many of the largest or most dangerous animals have been completely wiped out. This includes all Pleistocene megafauna, wolves over a large area of Europe and North America, and carnivorous marsupials in Australia. When a particular animal is a danger to humans, our livestock or crops, it tends to be eliminated. Conservation efforts have only recently begun.
Conversely, there are many animals that thrive in anthropogenic biomes. Many birds, especially pigeons and sparrows, are quite successful even in areas of very high population density, such as downtown areas. Having the power of flight, birds are more easily able to avoid death at the hands of humans than slower animals on land. Another successful animal in anthropogenic biomes is the squirrel, whose cuteness has earned it the general acceptance of human populations. Raccoons are a little less welcome, but are still common in anthropogenic biomes. Raccoons sneak in at night and use their high intelligence to get into garbage cans.
Of course, the biggest winners of the transition to anthropogenic biomes are those animals explicitly allied to humans, while the biggest losers are those subjugated to humans for food. On factory farms, millions of pigs and chickens are kept in unsanitary cages and stalls. Many of these animals never see the light of day until they are taken out for slaughter. Conversely, animals kept by humans as pets or allies, such as cats and dogs, are among the most successful denizens of anthropogenic biomes. There are an estimated 400 million dogs and 300 million cats in the world.
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