==> pickover/pickover.10.s <==
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In article <1992Oct20.184354.165170@watson.ibm.com> you write:
|> Title: Cliff Puzzle 10: The Ark Series
|> From: cliff@watson.ibm.com
|>
[ lotsa lines deleted ]
|>
|> 2.  Assume that all other organisms on earth were dead except for those
|> on the ark in question 1, and that the animals were released 1000 years
|> ago.  What would you expect to be surviving today?  (Assume that, where
                                                                     ^^^^^^^

|> applicable, a male and female were used for each species.)

Were you thinking of parthenogenesis or something ???
|>
|> 3.  Assume that the year is 1992 and that it rained for 40 days, and the
|> rain covered all the land on the earth.  Further assume that the flood
|> waters receded to pre-flood days within several months.
|>
|>    What would be the geopolitical changes as a result of the
|> temporary flood?

Dunno about this but it's a safe bet that the Netherlands _wouldn't_ get flooded
We've been blocking the sea out for hundreds of years, so we've more experience
at it than anyone else.
|>
|>    What would be the ecological changes as a result of the
|> temporary flood?

Andy.

Just my opinions, nobody else's, especially not Oracle's
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> 1.  Given a large ark containing 2 individuals of every animal species
> in the world, what would be the approximate total weight of all the
> organisms?  How would your answer differ if you included every plant,
> bacterial, and fungal organism?

1000 tons (guessed 10 million species with an average weight of 100 grams,
insects push this number down with their huge number of species).
No increase through bacteriae or fungi, but maybe with plants.
(You were unspecific:  All living species?)

> 2.  Assume that all other organisms on earth were dead except for those
> on the ark in question 1, and that the animals were released 1000 years
> ago.  What would you expect to be surviving today?  (Assume that, where
> applicable, a male and female were used for each species.)

None.  I think it's common knowledge with biologists that you need at least
~50 individuals of a species to keep genetic health --- aside from the
problem of both a male and female baby surviving.

> 3.  Assume that the year is 1992 and that it rained for 40 days, and the
> rain covered all the land on the earth.  Further assume that the flood
> waters receded to pre-flood days within several months.

"Covers the land."  How deep?  To cover *all* land (Himalaya) evenly, you
need a depth of 9000 m in most regions, so the question is, how fast will
it rise?  Do we just have time to put some tins in the boat?  Most people
don't have one.  Most airplanes cannot land but maybe some of them swim.
One has to calculate the distribution of swimming things in usual locations.
For if people have to swim 500-1000 m in cold water to a beam, most will
drown.

>    What would be the geopolitical changes as a result of the
> temporary flood?

With the survival of at most 1 percent of the population there will be a
completely new beginning.  Don't know if they would make the same mistakes,
though.  Technology will be thrown back, and science more than that.
Niven/Pournelle's "Lucifer's Hammer" is an accurate description.

>    What would be the ecological changes as a result of the
> temporary flood?

Lack of most animals, especially those dependent of plants (many of them
can't live without a day of food).  Most plants will grow again after some
time.

--ralf
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