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Why Endangered Species Are Important
The firsts article that she finds on Google explains why endangered species are important. She begins to read the content. ‘According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 96,500 species in the world today are considered endangered in some way. This is a staggering number by any measure, and even more alarming when one…
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Why Endangered Animals are Important to the Ecosystem
‘Should it matter to humans that other life forms are disappearing? Many think so. Human populations depend on plants and animals for much of their food, medicines, clothing and shelter. Perhaps even more important, is the fact that intact ecosystems perform many vital functions, like: Purifying the air; Filtering harmful…
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If These 8 Species Go Extinct, Entire Ecosystems Will Disappear
‘A keystone species, by definition, has the power to largely effect entire ecosystems simply by performing natural behaviors for survival. Impressive? We’d say so. Many ecologists consider apex predators such as sharks, killer whales, and wolves to be keystone organisms, since they maintain balance of biodiversity and…
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Tiffi is surprised to learn all of this
‘Sea Otters - Most of us would agree that sea otters are adorable … AND they also happen to be a keystone species! Otters chow on invertebrates and sea urchins – sea urchins that would devour kelp forests if their populations were not controlled. Kelp forest ecosystems support hundreds of species from sea stars to sharks.…
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What can Tiffi do about this?
Tiger Shark - Ah, now here’s an apex predator. Tiger sharks prey on basically anything they can get their jaws on, which means they control the populations of quite a variety of organisms. Fortunately, sharks will most often feed on the sickest and weakest of the marine population. Therefore, sharks improve the health of…
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Stopping Extinction in its Tracks
‘Stopping Extinction in Its Tracks The most unique feature of Earth is the existence of life, and the most extraordinary feature of life is its diversity. Every species alive today is a survivor against impossibly long odds - a product of millions of years of chance and change. A wellspring of wonder and resources. The…
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What is the point of saving endangered species?
‘In 1981, mountain gorillas were at rock-bottom. Confined to a small mountain range in central Africa, with humans encroaching on their habitat bringing poaching and civil war, their population was estimated at just 254. They would all have fitted into a single Boeing 747. Today things look a little better. A survey in…
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How much is all the life on Earth worth?
‘In 1997, ecologist Robert Costanza and his colleagues estimated that the biosphere provides services worth around $33 trillion a year. For comparison, they noted that the entire global economy at the time produced around $18 trillion a year. Unchecked species loss would wipe 18% off global economic output by 2050 Five…
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Wild nature is staggeringly beautiful
‘Take the idea that nature is beautiful, and we should preserve it for its aesthetics and wonder. Our pleasure at the beauty of nature can now be thought of as an ecosystem service. Nature provides us with beauty. If we value something and are prepared to pay to have it, then it has value You may well ask how we can put a…
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5 Endangered Species Making Incredible Comebacks
‘When it comes to saving endangered species, progress is an ongoing effort. Due to issues like poaching, the destruction of natural habitats, and illegal trade, animals face extinction for a number of reasons. Though some scientists are trying to bring extinct animal species back from the dead by resurrecting their DNA and…
