Reproduction in a Changing World

The Anthropocene period is so named because of the cumulative effects of human (mostly Homo sapiens ) behavior on this planet (and beyond); no other single taxon has accomplished as much because no other species has managed to irreversibly engineer their habitats in ways that last thousands of years (e.g. architecture and civil engineering). Indeed, human behavior impacts the health, lifestyle, and reproductive fitness of all organisms on Earth. In some cases, the source of the change agent is known and a solution to reverse the damage is actively being worked on or has been enacted; in other cases, the initial triggers may never be known, even though their widespread effects are usually clear.