Protecting millions of animal ecosystems on our planet is not just a moral imperative, it’s self-preservation. Each species of animal has an important role in maintaining the Earth’s health and humanity’s ability to thrive, and doing everything we can to make sure that the planet’s wildlife can continue to exist is both vitally important and urgent, as many species are on the verge of extinction.
So if you’re wondering about the importance of animals in an ecosystem, we’re going to explain in this article with a list of 4 critical reasons.
HOW DO ANIMALS HELP THE ECOSYSTEM?
A balanced animal ecosystem is indispensable to the survival of our planet. Through their roles as pollinators, predators, and prey, they ensure the survival and health of the natural world.
For instance, animals in an ecosystem like bees pollinate plants, essential for food production and biodiversity. Predators keep prey populations in check, preventing overgrazing and promoting plant growth. Scavengers and decomposers recycle nutrients, enriching the soil.
All in all, the presence and activities of animals in an ecosystem contribute to its resilience and sustainability. Understanding how animals help the ecosystem is key to preserving our planet's natural balance and biodiversity.
HOW DO ANIMALS AFFECT THE ECOSYSTEM?
Animals also play a critical role in shaping and sustaining ecosystems. From feeding to migration, their activities significantly influence the structure and function of their habitats.
In general, animals in the ecosystem help to maintain balance in our planet. Grazing animals like deer affect plant growth patterns and forest structure, while predators regulate prey populations. Elsewhere, seed dispersal by birds and mammals is crucial for plant propagation and nutrient cycling.
WHY ARE ANIMALS IMPORTANT TO AN ECOSYSTEM?
Animals in the ecosystem play a pivotal part in connecting the intricate web of life here on earth. Their interactions and behaviors are crucial in maintaining ecological harmony and ensuring the survival of various species, including humans. From the smallest insects to the largest mammals, let’s delve deeper into the symbiotic relationship that highlights the importance of animals in the ecosystem.
1. ANIMALS HELP FEED HUMANS
No, this is not advocating for eating meat. Each species has an effect on the planet’s food supply whether you’re an omnivore or a strict vegan. A lot has been written lately about the importance of maintaining the world’s bee population, for instance, and for good reason.
Besides providing humanity with one of our favorite ingredients for a myriad of dishes, bees are one of the animals that help humans exist. As animals in the ecosystem, they are responsible for a huge percentage of our food supply, pollinating roughly thirty percent of the world's agricultural crops and ninety percent of wild vegetation.
2. THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OTHER ANIMALS
Each species in an animal ecosystem serves a specific function, keeping other species populations in check and providing valuable biological resources to the environment. For example, elephants are not only one of the most intelligent species on the planet, they are also an animal that shapes the environment of the African savannah. During dry periods, they dig for water that aids the existence of smaller animals and vegetation. And the massive swath of vegetation they cut through when foraging enables new plants to grow and smaller animals to find new paths. Hot Tip: Track your own wild elephant with Fahlo’s Expedition Bracelet.
3. THEY KEEP OTHER ANIMAL POPULATIONS IN CHECK
Let’s not forget the predators. Polar bears, which you can follow with Fahlo’s Venture Bracelet, serve a vital function as hunters in the Arctic animal ecosystem. They keep the seal population in balance, which in turn keeps the crustacean and fish populations in check. Meanwhile, other Arctic predators often depend on the larger kills of the polar bear for their own sustenance, too.
If we take a trip below the surface, sharks help to keep fish populations in check. If you want to learn more about some of the varieties and the different animal ecosystems they occupy, check out our blog.
4. THEY SERVE AS AN INDICATOR OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH
Because of the specific functions they serve, any imbalance in an animal ecosystem provides warning signs that indicate the necessity of a course correction. Seals, who hunt fish and crustaceans, and polar bears, who hunt seals, are some of the animals that help humans measure the health of the Arctic ecosystem. That’s because their hunting habits indicate the thickness of Arctic ice. The thickness of this ice affects sea levels across the globe, impacting the underwater animal populations from Greenland to Australia as well as human coastal communities.
HELP US PROTECT ANIMAL ECOSYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD
If you’d like to be a part of Fahlo’s mission to educate people about our planet’s wildlife and protect humanity in the process, check out our story and get more information about what we do and who our partners are.