Our beautiful planet runs on something known as “biodiversity.” You watch inspirational documentaries by David Attenborough where he talks about the importance of biodiversity… but what actually is it? Biodiversity is where the presence of a variety of species is needed to keep ecosystems running smoothly; working ecosystems is how we are provided with the precious oxygen we sorely need to survive. Over the past recent century especially, we have seen some of the most declines in animal populations and the health of our natural systems deteriorating.
Here are some important animal roles in building biodiversity:
Humpback Whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae).
Named after their distinct hump on their back, humpback whales are responsible for controlling the populations of plankton, small fish, krill and more. But not only this, but whales are one of the ways evolution intended to ain in regulating planet earth’s atmosphere. Humpback whales store the carbon in their bodies when they move around in the ocean’s water column and from the food they eat, they lock the carbon in their body for multiple decades after death while also serving as a food source for up to 50 years for deep-water bottom-dwelling marine creatures.
Then, when they have digested their food and locked away its carbon within, it releases its waste which is full of essential nutrients to provide for the microscopic phytoplankton organisms that feed on those nutrients. Phytoplankton are the heart of the ocean; most, if not all, marine life depend on them to survive.
Phytoplankton (microscopic single-celled plants)
Although still remaining one of the most important natural tools created by evolution, trees aren’t as responsible for the air we breathe as we originally thought. Trees and land plants lock carbon and produce oxygen which is extremely important for combating climate change and trees themselves are crucial to land-based natural systems and biodiversity, the biodiversity of the ocean’s phytoplankton is the base of all ecosystems as it removes most of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and generates most of the oxygen we breathe. In fact, the ocean’s natural systems create 70% of the world’s oxygen, which only makes sense as the ocean covers 70% of the earth. The waste of humpback whales floats to the surface where the phytoplankton can use the nitrogen and iron as supplies to create the oxygen in our support system. Due to the long migrational routes of humpbacks and other whales, they feed and fertilise the phytoplankton far and wide across the earth’s oceans.
The Comeback of Humpbacks
From the time humpback whales almost reached a point of no return, we were inspired by the beautiful songs created by the males to attract the female whales for mating. We joined together to save the humpback whale and we imposed protection upon the species from whaling. Because of this, just earlier this year (2022) the humpback whale was removed from the Australian endangered list as their population has grown hundreds of thousands more than when they were on the brink of extinction. However, with warming seas, it’s too early to celebrate yet as they’re not yet out of danger.
Other cetaceans such as killer whales, grey whales and even smaller dolphins aid in keeping the ocean healthy using these ingenious evolution tactics.
Spiders (house-invaders or house-keepers?)
The spider's consumption of insects is one of the most important roles of the bugs.
Spiders have often been misnamed insects themselves when they’re not. Bugs, that they are, but they’re actually arachnids as they have 8 legs and insects have 6 legs. By preying on insects, they help sustain a ton of separate ecosystems that rely on each other to function. According to the American Museum of History’s spider insect, Norman Platnick, “there would be a famine without them.” Unfortunately, 80% of invertebrates have been lost due to our natural systems unbalancing from climate change, pollution and human activity.
However, we can help raise invertebrate levels by doing our part for the earth as well as planting bug-inviting plants in our gardens.
Sharks (friends or foe?)
Chondrichthyes is a class of animals whose skeletons are primarily made up of cartilage instead of bone. However, sharks have adapted to keep bone in their jaw for their famously-ferocious bite. However, they’re not the mindless-bloodthirsty monsters the media makes them out to be, You see, fictional films like jaws use the shock factor to portray them as killing monsters which ignites an unnecessary fear in people. The truth is, they swim underneath and past surfers, swimmers and divers on a daily basis. In fact, during 1990-2006 in the U.S, more fatalities were caused by holes in the sand at beaches then from sharks. Recently in 2022, a fatal shark attack occurred and the call to cull sharks in the area even though it was the first attack in 60 years in that area. Sharks are the ocean's natural bin me, also known as “vultures of the sea,” this means they travel several miles to feast on the corpses of deceased animals, especially the infamous great white shark which despite its misunderstood reputation, prefers to scavenge than hunt live prey as they need to preserve their precious energy to survive, whether it be for constantly needing to swim to move the seawater over their gills to breathe, participating in social disagreements and even using their energy to rip the strong blubber and flesh off whale corpses. This prevents disease outbreaks within the ocean as their strong and adaption immune systems eat away at a variety of pathogens which can also prevent disease outbreaks from spreading to land and to us.
Unfortunately, the population of shark species are rapidly declining due to shark fishing, shark finning and a variety of other human activities. Sadly, the entire ocean AND land-based ecosystems will crash as sharks do. We need to save sharks as soon as possible, not just to save the ocean, but to save the entire planet. You can do this by participating in signing petitions, writing to world leaders, and protesting to end shark finning and shark fishing.
Image from: Pages, T., 2022. Seeing sharks - Graphic Sociology. [online] Thesocietypages.org. Available at: <https://thesocietypages.org/graphicsociology/2009/11/05/seeing-sharks/> [Accessed 4 March 2022].
You can also watch: https://youtu.be/UVuHuifQL8Q
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Thought to be one of the most notorious apex predators in the ocean, are actually one of the most gentle. Under 20 attacks/fatalities have ever been recorded both in the wild and in human care combined. They’re one of the most diverse of the cetaceans. Despite their name, they were originally named ‘killer of whales’ not ‘killer whales’ as they kill and eat other whales, not humans. Their name also misunderstands them as something else: whales, and just that. But actually, they’re both dolphins and whales. This is as they’re in the family Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) which is included in the parvorder Toothed whales (Odontocetes) which are included in the Infraorder cetaceans (Cetacea). Cetaceans are split into two groups: Toothed whales (Odontocetes) as I have already discussed and the other is Baleen whales (Mysticeti) which included toothless whales such as the humpback and grey whale.
Killer whales are responsible for controling the populations of not only fish and even other whales and sharks, but also pinnipeds such as sea lions. Killer whales also participate in the making of oxygen in our atmosphere using the phytoplankton method as the sharks and other whales do.
Sadly, killer whale populations are decreasing in numbers due to human activity, habitat destruction, ocean pollution, and prey loss. To help save killer whales, sign relevant petitions, write to world leaders, demand to breach the snake river dams which are reducing the southern resident killer whale population due to destroying the ocean waters in that area and killing chinook salmon which are 80% of their diet, some sources say they’re 90% of their diet.
Tigers (unimportant or much-needed?)
Tigers are one of the most popularly known animals around the world. Observing tigers in the wild should only be done by professionals who are trained to read the body and vocal cues of tigers. They’re easily identifiable by their eye-catching orange colouring and black stripes. In human care, tigers are known to surprisingly known to form affectionate bonds with humans and they vocalise the very exciting “chuff” sound which is the tiger's primary positive vocalisation, unlike the famous purr we all know.
They’re vital in maintaining healthy and balanced food webs in natural systems linking to large herbivores, small herbivores and even plants! Without, or with a lack of, tigers, all of the ecosystems linked with these animals will be affected. Due to climate change, rising sea levels in areas have flooded tiger habitats and contaminated the precious freshwater drinking source for the tigers. This is causing tigers to die from dehydration as well as poaching, deforestation, and other human activities. Because of this, prey species will overrun, if this isn’t already happening, which will then lead to the overconsumption of vegetation which then, in turn, will damage more habitats and their populations will expand into human communities.
To help save tigers, help write to relevant world leaders, sign petitions and so much more!
What Can You Do?
Well, so you can see, only when we set aside our fears and work together, we can literally help save the world.
One of the most important and minimum things we can do is support accredited zoos and aquariums that participate in zoos and aquariums. As someone who has connections to working in zoological facilities, or to others working in zoological facilities, most of the rumours seen in the media are false. A lot of zoos do not work for profit, though they do need the profit to care for the animals in their care securely and to pay for their precious workers. Just buying a ticket goes a long way.
Then, you can start reducing your single-use plastic use and your carbon footprint.
For example, buying a reusable bottle and walking to work or taking public transport such as train or bus.
You can also completely stop using unnecessary waste such as balloons and temporary decorations that severely impacts animal populations and our planet.
‘A Life On Our Planet’ on Netflix by Sir David Attenborough is a must-watch and tells you a lot more you can do to help save animals in need as well as saving our future.
A lot of misunderstood creatures such as tigers, sharks, and even spiders need our help, but will you help them by putting aside your fear?
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