So, as of right now there are at least two topics about the possible end of the world. Gloom and doom, 'AAAAH WE'RE GONNA DIIIIE,' all that stuff.

This is not one of them.

This is, instead, a topic about 'what next?' Say the human race does die out. It'll happen eventually, be it now or thousands of years from. So we're gone, and the Earth has all these other species, who now have the space and resources that we hoarded.

Which one do you think will replace us as the dominant species?

rabbits. They breed fast, they will have ample hiding spots and all of the farm land will be heaven for them XD

Hmmm.... Well, the different species will spread out and adapt to the cities we've left behind. I bet in places like New York a canopy effect will take place in the skyscrapers: every floor is a different layer, and different creatures will live in them.

Without us to try and conserve the environment, a lot of species will probably die out in the first few years... there'll be a rat race to the top of the food chain and the whole system will fly out of whack for the first few decades.

-cri- I don't want to die. D;
So depressing. D:<

But ummm...
I'm guessing amphibious creatures will rules for quite a bit.

why bakteria ofcourse! we only exist because they ALLOW us to exist.. xD that's what I heard from some document (:

It seems that the next dominant species would depend almost entirely on how the human species was made extinct. Obviously if it's polar ice melt, then an aquatic species will take a dominant position. If it's an ice age, then some polar omnivore will do it, etc.

Chances are, if humans totally get wiped out by some freak catastrophe, then most animals with considerable intelligence will also be killed off. Some of the deepest fish in the ocean have a chance at surviving (according to my making-it-up-as-I-go-along knowlegde) so they should eventually evolve into the new dominant life.

But if monkeys or wolves outlive the human race, I bet they'd become dominant. They're both quite intelligent.

If the world came to an end... Lol, well I'm not in the mood to think so deep but eventually over time the species that were able to live after us will start to evolve. But I don't think it'll be awhile for another species to be intelligent like human to form.

Cockroaches or aliens. <<...>>....<<; I'm kinda serious.

It's a tossup between chimps and squids. They both have relatively high intelligence and limbs suitable for the use of tools.

Transformers.

Probably fish. By the time we're done here, there won't be any polar ice caps left and so there will be an influx of water. Therefore, dolphins shall rule the world. :D

Originally Posted by Lantern Fish

Without us to try and conserve the environment, a lot of species will probably die out in the first few years... there'll be a rat race to the top of the food chain and the whole system will fly out of whack for the first few decades.

If it weren't for humans, there wouldn't be a need to conserve species. We're interrupting life's cycle. We're displacing animals from their homes, then we're all like, "OHMYGOD OH NOES WE MUST SAVE THE ANIMALS!!!!11!!ONE"

It's our fault for screwing with nature in the first place. We shouldn't build anymore, there should be limitations on how many children a family can have, and the government should stop freaking paying farmers to destroy percentages of their crops to keep the prices so damn high.

We need to stop doing all this crap and stop affecting the environment around us. We're destroying nature. The sooner humans are dead, the better for the rest of the living creatures on Earth.

Originally Posted by Insane Cricket

If it weren't for humans, there wouldn't be a need to conserve species. We're interrupting life's cycle. We're displacing animals from their homes, then we're all like, "OHMYGOD OH NOES WE MUST SAVE THE ANIMALS!!!!11!!ONE"

It's our fault for screwing with nature in the first place. We shouldn't build anymore, there should be limitations on how many children a family can have, and the government should stop freaking paying farmers to destroy percentages of their crops to keep the prices so damn high.

We need to stop doing all this crap and stop affecting the environment around us. We're destroying nature. The sooner humans are dead, the better for the rest of the living creatures on Earth.

As bad as it may sound, all of these animals are going to be extinct anyway. Throughout the history of the planet, it's just been a cycle of death and rebirth. Frankly, I don't think we have the power to drastically change the Earth. Sure there's global warming and all that, but nature is resilient to catastrophes. If it can withstand giant meteors that cause there to be no Sun, I think Earth can stand firm against some squishy monkeys with fire.

Yep, I agree with General Lee. Our planet goes through natural climate changes, and eventually nearly all the living organisms here are going to be killed because they can't adapt. We might fuck with things and throw off the balance, but ultimately we cannot stop the forces of nature.

Cockroaches. Heck, they can survive a microwave-ing, and the little bleepers are everywhere, plus they eat anything. I'd say the planet would easily become roachville.