Importance of preserving wildlife

[TheBiodegradableMan]

Ever since Richard made a post a few weeks ago asking why we should care about species going extinct, I’ve been really looking into the matter for a clear answer. There are a few classifications for certain types of species that need to be protected. The species that absolutely must be protected are keystone species, indicator species, and pioneer species.

A keystone species is one that has a very large variety of roles in an ecosystem that directly affect other organisms in that ecosystem. The removal of a keystone species will most likely lead to the collapse of an entire community. Here are some examples of roles a keystone species might play in any ecosystem:

-Pollinating flowers
-Dispersing seeds
-Modifying habitats (i.e. digging, building nests, etc.)
-Consuming other carnivores in the ecosystem
-Returning nutrients to soil
-Recycling animal wastes

Each of those roles are vital to maintaining a balance in the ecosystem. This might seem a little abstract, so I’ll give a real life example. American Alligators in Florida are considered a keystone species. Here are the important niches the American Alligator fills in Everglades ecosystems:

-Alligators dig large trench-like holes in muddy areas. These holes eventually become small pond, and remain filled with water even during dry periods.
-Fish, turtles, and other animals live in these alligator holes during droughts.
-Birds and land animals use the holes as a water source.
-Alligator holes also allow various plants to grow.
-Many animals such as birds, mammals, and other reptiles rely on alligator eggs for a source of food.
-Alligators consume certain species of carnivorous fish, allowing other important fish species to maintain fairly stable population sizes.

Indicator species must also be protected. The importance of indicator species is that their presence or absence can alert us to possible environmental problems such as pollution or habitat destruction in their ecosystems.

The most common examples of indicator species are birds and amphibians. Birds are highly sensitive to airborne pollutants, as was proven by the use of certain species in mines to alert miners of high gas concentrations. Amphibians have porous skin, which easily absorbs water. This makes them sensitive to pollution in water systems such as that from agricultural or urban runoff.

Without indicator species, we might not be able to see the consequences of our harmful practices until all species have been effected, and it is too late to take action. They are instrumental in locating the sources of pollution.

Pioneer species are the third type of species that should also be protected. Pioneer species are organisms such as lichens and mosses that can start the process of turning barren lands into habitable lands. These species collect soil over long periods of time and allow for other vegetation to grow in the area. This in turn allows herbivores and carnivores to move into the area as well. They are basically the foundation in the development of any ecosystems.

Without these species and the first species of plants to grow in the area, there can be no ecological succession. Areas devoid of life will remain so, and wasted land cannot be reclaimed. Bioremediation of polluted areas cannot occur, leaving them forever uninhabitable by humans or any other creatures.

To sum all of this up, you can’t just look at a species and say it’s alright for it to become extinct because it’s just a part of nature. You have to take a deeper look at the roles the organisms play in every ecosystem. Even organisms that appear to have little impact on the environment might have numerous connections to other organisms. Extinction is natural, but extinction through natural processes usually (with the exception of through catastrophes) occurs with organisms that fail to adapt. The problem with extinctions today are that they are happening to organisms that have adapted, and this is not acceptable if we are causing their extinctions.

Also, I know this was part of another topic, but I decided to make my own because it deals not only with preventing extinctions, but also the protection of species in general.

Community ecology is one of my favorite parts of environmental science, so I hope I didn't leave anything important out.

[forfi]

Excellent work Bio and I don't think anyone will complain about you making your own treads when you work so hard at it

Good post

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by TheBiodegradableMan

Birds are highly sensitive to airborne pollutants, as was proven by the use of certain species in mines to alert miners of high gas concentrations.

I believe it was canaries detecting high CO and methane concentrations. They were replaced by gas detectors in the 1980s.

Originally Posted by TheBiodegradableMan

Pioneer species are organisms such as lichens and mosses that can start the process of turning barren lands into habitable lands.

If I remeber my A level biology correctly they can also be used as an indicator species because different types of lichen will grow in different levels of air polution.

[TheBiodegradableMan]

Originally Posted by spadlet

I believe it was canaries detecting high CO and methane concentrations. They were replaced by gas detectors in the 1980s.

Yes, that is correct. .

Originally Posted by spadlet

If I remeber my A level biology correctly they can also be used as an indicator species because different types of lichen will grow in different levels of air polution.

That's correct too. Also, in aquatic ecosystems there are many indicator species. There are three types of aquatic organisms:

Pollution sensitive
Caddisfly Larvae
Dobsonfly Larvae
Mayfly Nymphs
Water Penny Beetle Larvae
Riffle Beetles
Stonefly Nymphs
Left-Handed Snails
Salamanders

Pollution Intermediate
Beetle Larvae
Damselfly Nymphs
Dragonfly Nymphs
Scuds
Crayfish
Sowbugs
Clams
Crane Fly Larvae

Pollution Tolerant
Aquatic Worms
Pouch Snails
Black Fly Larvae
Leeches
Midge Larvae

My environmental science class did a study on a stream by our school and found many organisms from each category, so the stream is relatively free of pollution. We also tested for chloride, ammonia, phosphates, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate/nitrite, and coliform. The only test that we got bad results for was the coliform test. That's pretty disgusting, but it's expected.

[centralpabiofuel]

If you look at Yosemite or Yellowstone (I forget which, but I think it is
Yosemite) the re-introduction of the timber wolf has changed the
landscape COMPLETELY! It is for the better. The landscape has changed
as beavers have returned in numbers, creating log jams and dams,
creating large wetlands for 1,000's of other species to live. (read bleow to understand why the baver returned)

It may seem impossible for only one animal to play such a large role, but
when the top of the chain is removed, it has a whiplash effect.

Depriving nature of it's delicate of preditor/prey allows populations to
grow uncheck of aminals that eat wildlife. The prey usually consume
vegetable matter, so as the population of the prey increases, vegetation
decreases. As vegetation decreases so do habitat's for thousand's of
other organism's in the food chain. Once this happens, the bottom of the
food chain startsto disappear and it is an unfortunate chain reaction.
Everything starts to slip away.

I am glad to see bio-genetic engineering as some extinct life forms will
undoubtedly be re-introduced and the balance may be restored.