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Here's why these 7 animals and insects are important to our ecosystem

A hierarchy that we need to respect

By Adrianna Anastasiades Published 3 years ago 4 min read
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Here's why these 7 animals and insects are important to our ecosystem
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

A lot of people are quite ignorant of the true importance of animals and insects and what roles they play. We see a wild animal and we call it our spirit animal, and we might know a few cool facts about it, but do we actually know why they are significant? Why they shouldn't be harmed or become close to endangered?

We value ourselves highly as a species, thinking that we can make a difference to the world with our environmentally friendly products, cruelty -free practices and our awareness campaigns. But the truth is, that even some charities and organisations are just another form of greed and sometimes don't even fight for the true cause.

But animals, animals have stuck around on this planet longer than we have and they all play an important role. In fact, here are 7 that contribue greatly to our ecosystem.

By leandro fregoni on Unsplash

Bees

We all like smelling flowers and planting them in our garden, so think of bees as your gardeners that keep them clean. 80% of flowers such as clovers rely on insect pollution. Without the bees doing the hard work of taking the pollen, flowers and plants wouldn't fully grow. That means that the food sources that we rely on such as Alfafa hay to feed our pets and livestock would become scarce. This also includes plants and flowers that many farmers grow for food for humans too.

If you have a garden or a balcony where you can keep plants, try to plant these:

  • Bluebells
  • Rosemary
  • Crab Apple
  • Bugle
  • Primrose
  • Pulmonaria
  • Rhododenron
  • Hawthorn
  • Flowering cherry and currant
  • Thyme
  • Foxglove
  • Snapdragon
  • Cornflower
  • Lavender
  • Ivy
  • By Jonnelle Yankovich on Unsplash

    Chipmunks

    These cute striped face rodents play a big role in our ecology. Think of them as farmers, because they are experts in harvesting and taking tree seeds which contributes to the seedling system that's needed for the forest ecosystem. On top of that, they help maintain a healthy balance between fungi and trees so that truffles grow, by eating fungi themselves.

    By Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

    Beavers

    Ever wondered why beavers have to always collect wood in order to create dams? That's because they help create aquatic vegetation, thus increasing the population of amphibian and mammal life. They are the protectors of the wetland, and dams are also created in order to protect themselves against predators.

    You might think that wood is no longer useful if it's not buried in the ground, but these furry lumberjacks know better than us because they can help create the perfect lighting for food growth and storage, thus giving a chance for aquatic vegetation to grow. They are automatically helping feed other animals such as ducks, woodpeckers and kingfishers. Fish also get to have a food source too.

    By Jeff Griffith on Unsplash

    Zebras

    We usually see Zebras as prey, but the truth is that they do play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They help control the insect population by eating the same plants as them. On top of that, they are the wild life's florists, because they like to eat old plants and stems, which helps clear out any old vegetation so that new and fresh vegetation can grow. Zebras are in a way responsible for providing fresh quality food for wild herbivores that are also important to our environment.

    By Shiebi AL on Unsplash

    Butterflies

    If you see a butterfly or two, you should know that your environment is in good hands. Butterflies and their night time relatives moths help maintain a healthy balance in our environment, by being responsible for natural pest control and pollination. Yes, these winged insects are seen as natural prey and a food source for birds, bats and other animals, but they are the perfect assistants for farmers when they're alive. Agricultural crops and plants wouldn't survive without butterflies.

    In order to help increase the population of butterflies, you should grow these in your garden or on your balcony:

    • Buddleja
    • Sedum
    • Hebe
    • Verbena Bonariensis
    • Echinops
    • Echinacea
    • Lavender
    • Aster
    • Fennel
    • Cornflower
    By Bryce olsen on Unsplash

    Bisons

    It's all about the foot work with Bisons, which is why they're crucial to our ecosystem. They're the creators of habitats that work in favour of other animals that share the same land as them. When they're looking for food with their hooves, they help create air in the soil and that helps the plants grow. This then helps create the balance that's needed for our ecosystem.

    By Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

    Polar Bears

    Polar bears are very close to being extinct by 2050, but they play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Without polar bears, we wouldn't have the biological balance that's needed and the natural hierarchy as we know today will crumble.

    Polar bears are natural predators and their main food source is seals. With a decrease in polar bears and an increase in seals, seals will consume more fish and crustaceans, which means that naturally there will be limited sources of food supply for humans. Polar bears are apex predators and if you remove that from the chain, the chain will automatically break.

    Nature
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    About the Creator

    Adrianna Anastasiades

    Born and raised in London. Living in Seoul, South Korea. Studied BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing at Southampton Solent University.

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