Expert: Walter Hintz - 9/14/2006

Question
What does it mean to be a "successful" organism? Bacteria are certainly the most numerous organisms on Earth, they live in nearly all environments, and they are the least susceptible to being eliminated through environmental catastrophe. Are they Earth's most successful organisms?

Answer
 Hi Jamie
I think "successful" is a relative term and somewhat meaningless.  I don't think you can assign a particular group as most successful.  Bacteria have been around the longest and they pretty much control everything, but insects are also very successful.  Are we the most successful.  Perhaps it is too early to tell. We have only been around a short while.