So this is how it works

We current humans consume and pollute (soon we'll be like the fremen in 'dune' who live in perfect ecological harmony with their environs) and think that eco-disaster is just over the horizon. Then Gaia reveals yet another buffering system that keeps things together just enough that sheer apocalyptic horror never materializes. Gradually we as a species wisen up and become more fremen-like; and Gaia continues relatively unimpeded.

The latest evidence for this encouraging (though I wont get carried away) phenomenon is the bearded goby fish of Namibia. Who would have guessed that such an unprepossessing character could save an entire ecosystem almost singlehandedly? Yet just look what this fish can do, and does: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/07/bearded-goby/

The goby ignores toxic mud and a low-oxygen environment, feeds on overwhelmingly excessive jellyfish populations, and act as necessary food for other species that would die without them. Their presence is called "lucky" by one of the biologists quoted in the article above. Gaia may beg to differ; and perhaps humanity can assist the cause by breeding goby or similar creatures for other toxic sea areas around the world.

There's a lot of big bad news out there right now. Let's celebrate the little, lovable, lucky(?) goby.