Avian ecologist
What is a species? How do we categorise animals and environments? How does our exploitation of the Earth continue to affect ecological balances? Answering these questions is the key to understanding biodiversity. Join Samuel Temidayo Osinubi as he dives into these topics.
What is a species? How do we categorise animals and environments? How does our exploitation of the Earth continue to affect ecological balances? Answering these questions is the key to understanding biodiversity. Join Samuel Temidayo Osinubi as he dives into these topics.
There are many layers to understanding biodiversity. A species is a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding naturally to produce fertile offspring. There are numerous species concepts such as the phenetic, evolutionary and phylogenetic. Species concepts do not only determine what a species is, but by agreeing on what a species is, we can also then speak about what speciation is and identify what drives it. An ecosystem contains species of plants and animals interacting with each other as well as with their natural environment. Lastly, we have flagship species (identified as icons or ambassadors for an environmental cause, more for their ability to rouse public interest in the conservation) and keystone species (whose presence and actions help define and maintain their ecosystem).
Key learning objectives:
Define species
Understand ecosystems and ecoregions
Identify the difference between flagship and keystone species
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A species is a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding naturally to produce fertile offspring. Better known as the biological species concept, this is the most used definition of what a species is in general literature.
An ecosystem, or ecological system, is a discrete unit within which biotic and abiotic elements interact. Biotic elements are the flora and fauna within the unit, while the abiotic comprises the climatic (light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases), topographic (altitude, gradient) and edaphic (largely soil based).
Biotic trophic levels are used to describe a species’ role and level within the food web.
The three basic trophic roles are producers or autotrophs, which are typically plants and algae that take nutrients from the soil or aquatic environment to produce their own food with sunlight, which is photosynthesis.
The second role is that of a consumer or heterotroph, which cannot produce their own food and need to consume other organisms, with herbivores consuming plants and carnivores consuming other animals.
The third role is that of a decomposer or detritivore, which are typically bacteria and fungi that break down dead plant and animal material into mineral nutrient for use by producers and for abiotic cycles.
Flagship species are identified as icons, symbols or ambassadors for an environmental cause more for their ability to rouse public interest in the conservation of the species, its habitat and/or broader conservation agendas. Flagship species are typically in danger of extinction and are considered to be popular, charismatic and ‘cute and cuddly’. For example, the elephant, the panda, the rhino.
Keystone species are those whose presence and actions help define and maintain their ecosystem. Keystone species may not necessarily be the largest or most numerous species within an ecosystem. One example is of the dam-building abilities of beavers. These dams affect the flow rate and oxygenation of waterways, creating a thriving environment for other species as well as itself.
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