I have been interested in quantifying global abundance of organisms. In addition, I have been trying to estimate rates of mortality due to human causes, although this requires estimates of population size. I have developed two methods for estimating global population size of all birds, but also global estimates of mortality. However, I wonder if anybody else has come up with alternative estimates of global abundance of birds (and other organisms).
Thank you for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Anders Pape Møller
There are approximately 10,500 known species of birds in the world, according to the International Ornithologists’ Union.
By the way, there are 31,300 different species of fish (for appr 2010). For comparison, the total number of species of vertebrates, to which fish also belong, is 62,305.
Dear Dr. Kulchitsky,
Thank you, but I was looking for an estimate of the total number of individuals, not the number of species.
Yours sincerely,
Anders Pape Møller
Ok, over seven million species of plants and animals live on our planet. If we add in the world's species that aren't plants or animals, such as lichens, mushrooms and bacteria, the total number of species brings the number to 11.3 million on earth.
Let me calculate. There are an estimated 3.5 trillion fish in the ocean. About insects. The ants are appr107–108 billion.
So, if I continue calculations, it may take quite a long time. Therefore, more convincing evidence of a large number of species.
Dear colleague,
Thank you very much. I am aware of the ant estimate, but who published the estimate for fishes? I would be grateful for a reference.
Yours sincerely,
Anders Pape Møller
With my pleasure (some links).
http://fishcount.org.uk/fish-count-estimates
http://reducing-suffering.org/how-many-wild-animals-are-there/
http://fishcount.org.uk/fish-count-estimates
http://reducing-suffering.org/how-many-wild-animals-are-there/
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