I’ve also heard a plausible argument that agriculture results in much less mineral content in the soil. Note that organic agriculture as usually defined isn’t going to solve the problem—the manure from animals eating plants from lower mineral soil doesn’t get the mineral level back up.
Nothing but deliberately putting minerals back (which ones? how much?) or another glacial period is going to change the situation.
I don’t think evolution always compensates for changed conditions—sometimes the pathways aren’t available, sometimes the lucky chance doesn’t happen, and, after all, you don’t have to get back to the previous level of competence—your competitors are operating under the same constrained conditions you are.
I’ve also heard a plausible argument that agriculture results in much less mineral content in the soil. Note that organic agriculture as usually defined isn’t going to solve the problem—the manure from animals eating plants from lower mineral soil doesn’t get the mineral level back up.
Nothing but deliberately putting minerals back (which ones? how much?) or another glacial period is going to change the situation.
I don’t think evolution always compensates for changed conditions—sometimes the pathways aren’t available, sometimes the lucky chance doesn’t happen, and, after all, you don’t have to get back to the previous level of competence—your competitors are operating under the same constrained conditions you are.