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It Saddens many of us to think that we could lose animal species and never get the chance to see them ever again in our lifetime. One day it's there and we admire every thing about it from the way it behaves to the complexity of its anatomy. The next BOOM, never seen again. For many this is heartbreaking to hear but for others, they do not see the harm of losing an animal forever. The truth is some humans have no understanding as to how drastic and devastating the loss of just one species is. Some people do not see why losing just one species is the end of the world, it's just one animal right? WRONG, you should be very worried if just one species goes and here is why. I believe as a graduate of an animal based diploma of whom had a specified interest towards my Ecological unit, it is part of my duty to educate you as to why this is such a big deal.

The truth is every animal, even the ones you cannot stand, are extremely important to the environment, the habitat they live in and surprisingly, every other species in that area. Let's face it,we are all guilty of seeing a spider crawl in our room, a moth flying around the lamp above our head and straight up panicking whilst yelling 'what is the point in these things even existing?!' There is actually so much more purpose to an animal than meets the eye. Let's say that spider you despise of or that moth that drives you mad suddenly dropped dramatically in numbers, the impacts are a danger to the animals we find fascinating. In ecology all species are interlinked, meaning that the rise or fall of one species effects another drastically. This is because they are connected to the same food web. So lets say those spiders and moths suddenly disappeared, what would happen? Well firstly it is important to understand what eats what in the food web.

Here we have a brief example of a small British food web. That moth species for example disappears along with a majority of those creepy spiders. Starting with the producers (plants) at the bottom of the web it is clear to see that these are consumed by the primary producers, the voles aphid and ladybirds. With moths gone, the more likely it is for the number of plants to grow as less species consume them. What is so bad about that right? Actually This could cause a rise in the other primary consumers like the voles and bugs. Though this means there is more food to prey on for the stoats, this may cause a problem for the territory size available. Stoats are a solitary species which means they have a preference to live alone. As a stoat will have a certain area in the woodland of which it fights to protect (AKA it's territory), that is THAT stoats territory and it will not welcome any competition. With more food around, more stoats will fight for that area, meaning that the competition will increase and cause problems for that species. Many stoats could lose their territories and struggle to find a safe area to live that humans have not taken over. As well as this a common secondary consumer (the predators) to the moth is the blue-tit. With less food the blue tits in the area may decrease, causing the owls to also decrease as they now have less food sources to feed on. The owls unfortunately also prey on the birds such as the chiffchaff and as the spiders are gone, the chiffchaff has no food and so the owl is limited for dinner choice. As a result the likelihood of losing the main predator in the area is concerning and likely. The drop in the main predatory species may lead to an overpopulation of prey animals. A dangerous move for the habitat as the primary consumers (herbivores) will make it hard for plant life to grow if they eat too much and degrade the habitat. As well as this, you may notice less bats in the area as they have less moths to prey on as their role is to control the moth population, without them there are again too many primary consumers. The spiders of which keep the number of flies down will not be able to control the numbers. Flies will start buzzing around your room more and these species have a nasty habit of spreading maggots which rot food and spreading diseases through the consumption of feces.

As a result, it is clear to see that many animals were effected by just losing what you used to think was a couple of pointless 'bugs'. With this knowledge now in mind, Imagine what the loss of a big African mammal would lead to. Pure destruction of one of the most fascinating habitats on this Earth.

Going back to the beloved Rhinos as seen in the main picture above, many do not understand what such huge herbivores could do to such a huge environment like a Savannah. When Rhinos die they do help feed scavengers, however Rhinos need to stay alive naturally in order to serve all the other jobs necessary. When Rhinos, elephants and Hippos release the large amounts of feces they do (gross I know but that is nature), the de-composers (microorganisms) break it down. This decomposition of feces and even dead carcass causes the release of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is actually more essential to us then we know. This is because in order to photosynthesize plants need a good amount of Carbon dioxide and H20 in order to release Oxygen and glucose. Oxygen has a key responsibility in keeping animals alive. This is due to the fact that Glucose (found in plants) is eaten by herbivores and allows them to respire, the equation for respiration is glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + water + energy. This is essential to allow animals of any kind to breath and function as well as provide more carbon dioxide for the plants to photosynthesize. This allows the producers of the food chain to thrive and so the environment and ecosystem in general can expand. Elephants and Rhinos alike are able to eat large amounts of plant life which to many would seem like a threat for other herbivores right? WRONG, these animals are so clever they developed a habit of eating the woody, less advertising plant matter in order to ensure they take in enough energy, allowing other animals to graze upon more rich vegetation. This is known as a niche in ecology as the animals changed their eating style to suit their environment. Herbivores need to eat vegetation not only to survive but because this way they take in the energy needed and pass it on to other species that prey on them. The food chain is essential for allowing all species to function in an ecosystem. The glucose required to allow an animal to respire and create a bi product of energy is taken in by herbivores when they eat vegetation (remember respiration=glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + water + energy). As a result when a carnivore eats a herbivore they take in glucose and are able to produce the energy they need to function and convert it into chemical energy (food → movement).

Therefore species help other species survive and for rhinos the land itself also thrives with their presence. The urine and feces produced by rhinos helps change the PH of the soil and provide it with nutrients. Cool but gross right?! Large animals such as elephants and rhinos help create trails where they have been, allowing seeds to be disposed and creating room for more mud, this gives a chance for a wider range of vegetation (the primary producers) to grow ensuring there is enough food for the bottom of the food chain. AMAZING! Though that is cool, it gets even cuter! Birds also are seen pitching rides on Rhinos backs to keep them safe so, what would they do without their friends if they were to all die out? The birds serve as essential prey items to other species and help them thrive, therefore the population of birds needs to thrive as well.

It is clear to see that without just one species a lot of vegetation would struggle to grow, putting the number of herbivores at risk. Without herbivores the carnivores have no source of energy gain from prey and so their numbers also plummet. No carnivores and there is NOTHING keeping down the balance of herbivorous populations. This can result in the vegetation disappearing and being degraded to the point where the Eco-system size decreases. This is because there is nothing to support the bottom of the food chain and supply life with the energy it needs to survive.

Remeber- NO PREY, NO PREDATOR- NO PLANTS- NO LIFE.

It's a big deal losing just one species. So next time you see real fur being sold or an item such as ivory that was once the horn of rhino, DO NOT BUY IT. When you see an animal being hunted DO NOT SUPPORT THIS. When you want some new land cut down- consider what lives there and what other species are affected by this. Please help spread awareness and save many habitats and hundreds of species being lost forever because losing just one species means we could lose far too many.

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Extinction of just one species could lead to the loss of many.

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We here it on the news all the time. That piercing feeling you get in your stomach when another headline tells you news of which can tug at the heart strings but NOT in a good way. You sit there and...

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Image Credits

Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images

Have you ever wondered about the difference between a food chain and a food web? While a food chain follows a singular link, a food web shows how diverse and interconnected an ecosystem's food sources can be. Explore what a food web is in science through a food web diagram. You'll also get vocabulary words and a fun coloring printable to expand your food web thinking.

What Is a Food Web in Science?

Do you like to eat just one food? Well, animals don't either. They like to eat all different types of plants and animals, depending on whether they are a herbivore, omnivore or carnivore.

For example, a red fox likes to eat rabbits and birds. A thrush, which is a type of bird, like to eat both worms and snails. To illustrate the different foods animals like, a food web shows several of the different food chains in a habitat and how they work together. To really understand a food web, you need to look at a food chain first.

Food Web vs. Food Chain

A food chain shows you how one organism eats another and transfers its energy. For example, a zebra eats grass, and the zebra is eaten by the lion. The food chain looks like this:

Food chains are a simple look at how sunlight is made into energy by plants through photosynthesis, then how that energy is transferred from animal to animal after eating the plants.

Food webs look at how multiple food chains interact with each other. Since most animals or plants might be part of several different food chains, they can create a food web that is made up of lots of producers, consumers and decomposers.

Food Web Diagram Example

To see how a food web works, it can be easiest to look at an example.

For instance, plants are eaten by grasshoppers and squirrels. The grasshopper is eaten by the lizard, which is then eaten by the fox. The squirrel can be eaten by a fox or a golden eagle. The squirrel can also be eaten by a snake, which is then eaten by the fox. When the fox or eagle die, they are decomposed by earthworms and bacteria.

See how it can get confusing? Looking at a food web diagram can really clear things up.

Image Credits

lukaves / iStock / Getty Images

Trophic Levels

Each level in a food web is a trophic level. This means that energy is transferred from one organism to another, or from one trophic level to another. At the beginning of the food web are the producers or autotrophs. The producers are then eaten by the consumers or heterotrophs, which include primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, plus the decomposers.

Examples of Food Webs

Food webs exist in a variety of biomes. Because each habitat is unique, each food web is slightly different. Explore different plants, animals and decomposers that can be found in deserts, savannas, forests and marine environments.

Desert

A desert is a habitat with little water. Deserts aren't all hot either. Some deserts are very cold. In the desert food web, you'll find:

Producers: Cacti, bushes, acacias, flowers, brush

Primary Consumers: Insects, lizards, rodents

Secondary Consumers: Tarantulas, scorpions, lizards, snakes

Tertiary Consumers: Hawks, foxes

In a food web, cacti are eaten by insects, lizards or rodents. The insects can be eaten by the tarantulas, scorpions and lizards. The lizards are then hunted by snakes, foxes and hawks. Everyone likes a little variety in their diet.
Forest

Forests have lots of trees and other plants. They are dense with lots of different vegetation for animals to enjoy. Check out the different players in a desert food web.

Producers: Plants, fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers

Primary Consumers: Deer, squirrels, frogs, birds, pikas

Secondary Consumers: Pine marten, jackrabbits, ravens, ringtails

Tertiary Consumers: Bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes

An example of a forest food web includes plants and fruit eaten by a mule deer. The mule deer can then be eaten by a lion or bobcat. Another food web example is the pika eating the plants. The pika is consumed by the ringtail or raven. The ringtail is then eaten by the coyote, mountain lion or bobcat.

Savanna

A savanna biome has a lot of grass for animals to graze on. These habitats are found in Africa, Australia and even South America. You might see zoo animals like zebras and lions. Find out who will be in a savanna food web.

Producers: Star grass, oat grass and acacia

Primary Consumers: Grasshoppers, ants, termites, warthogs, gazelle, impala, mice, wildebeest

Secondary Consumers: Pangolins, aardvarks, mongooses

Tertiary Consumers: Wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, caracals, servals, eagles

The savanna food web might start with a warthog eating star grass. The warthog can then be caught and eaten by the lion or wild dog. Another example would be of a termite eating the red oat grass. That termite might then be eaten by the mongoose or the serval. But the mongoose can be eaten by the caracal, too.

Marine

Underwater creatures like variety too. In a marine environment, examples that you will find in the food web include:

Producers and Decomposers: Seagrass, seaweed, algae, plankton, bacteria

Primary Consumers: Turtles, damselfish, crab, shrimp

Secondary Consumers: Octopuses, triggerfish, squid, krill

Tertiary Consumers: Seagulls, penguins, elephant seals, whales

If you were to watch the food web happen underwater, you would see krill eat plankton. The krill would then be eaten by fish or a whale. That fish might be eaten by a seagull or a seal.

Food Web Coloring Page

Try your hand at understanding a food web through a fun coloring page. Simply print and color.

Food Web Vocabulary

Food webs have many different moving parts that are all important to maintaining a stable ecosystem. Explore these vocabulary words to further your knowledge of food webs.

Producers (autotrophs) - make their own food

Consumers - omnivores, carnivores and herbivores that eat other plants and animals

Decomposers - insects and bacteria that break down organisms

Herbivores - animals that only eat plants

Carnivores - animals that eat other animals

Omnivores - animals that eat both plants and animals

Trophic Level - the position of an organism on the food chain (producer, consumer, decomposer)

Primary Consumers - the organisms that eat the plants

Secondary Consumers - the animals that eat the primary consumers

Tertiary Consumers - the animals that can eat both primary and secondary consumers

Animals and Energy

When it comes to energy, everyone has to eat. Since animals like variety, you'll find that food sources don't just happen in a single chain. Even the top consumers become food for something in the end! Learn more about decomposers by exploring examples of zygomycetes.

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While a food chain follows a singular link, a food web shows how diverse and interconnected an ecosystem's food sources can be.

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Biomes of the World for Children: Oceans, Mountains, Grassland, Rainforest, Desert - FreeSchool

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Lotka-Volterra equations (also known as the predator-prey equations) are a pair of first-order non-linear differential equations. They are used to describe the dynamics of biological systems in which two species interact, one as a predator (here foxes) and the other as prey (here rabbits). The populations change through time according to the equation system: where a, b, c and d are some given constants. Use the "play" button in the bottom-left corner to start visualizing the system. You can learn how the system behaves if you drag the moving point in the coordinate system, or you can set completely new values for the constants on the right.

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Lotka-Volterra equations (also known as the predator-prey equations) are a pair of first-order non-linear differential equations. They are used to describe the dynamics of biological systems in which two species interact, one as a predator (here foxes) and the other as prey (here rabbits).

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These are important key terms:

An ecosystem is two or more populations of organisms (usually many more) in their environment.

A population is all the organisms of the same or closely-related in an area.

Levels of organisation within an ecosystem

Organisms within an ecosystem are organised into levels.

Producers are plants and algae, which photosynthesise.

Primary consumer

Primary consumers are herbivores, which eat producers.

Secondary consumer

Secondary consumers are carnivores, which eat primary consumers.

Tertiary consumer

Tertiary consumers are also carnivores. They eat secondary consumers.

Interdependence

All organisms in an ecosystem depend upon each other. If the population of one organism rises or falls, then this can affect the rest of the ecosystem.

A simple food chain is:

grass → rabbit → fox

If the foxes in the above were killed, the population of rabbits would increase because they are no longer prey to the foxes. As a result the amount of grass would decrease because the increased population of rabbits would be eating it.

Often very small changes to ecosystems have large consequences, which can be difficult to predict. This means that all the organisms in an ecosystem are dependent upon each other. We call this .

Competition

All plants and algae in an ecosystem compete for light, space, water and minerals from the soil. Animals in an ecosystem compete for food, mates and their territory. Organisms which have more of these resources tend to grow more healthily and are more likely to have offspring. Competition can be interspecific or depending on whether organisms from different species or the same species are competing for resources.

Stable communities

A stable community is one in which the size of the populations of all species remain relatively constant over time. In the example above the amount of grass, and the numbers of rabbits and foxes all remain relatively constant. The different populations are living in a healthy balance with their environment.

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Communities - Adaptations, interdependence and competition - AQA - GCSE Biology (Single Science) Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize

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These are important key terms: An ecosystem is two or more populations of organisms (usually many more) in their environment. A population is all the organisms of the same or closely-related in an area. Organisms within an ecosystem are organised into levels. Producers are plants and algae, which photosynthesise.

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Image source: By Arturo de Frias Marques (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Image source: By Arturo de Frias Marques (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In class, we have been learning about different habitats around the world. Remember, the natural homes of plants and animals are called habitats. Animals and plants have adaptations that help them to survive in their habitat. Let's begin by watching some introductory videos about habitats. Pay attention to all the different habitats that are mentioned in the videos. Start by visiting teacher tube and watching both of the following videos:

http://www.teachertube.com/video/habitats-192363

These will give you an overview of animal habitats around the world. In this field trip, we will be studying the desert, the rain forest, the grasslands, and the ocean. However, there are many more habitats around the world. You will also be keeping a data sheet. Click here for the data sheet. Then, scroll down to begin learning about our first habitat: the desert.

Image source: By Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

There are deserts located throughout the world. All deserts have a very dry climate. However, even though it is very dry, animals and plants do live in the desert. Begin by visiting National Geographic's desert information site and finding the location of at least 2 deserts. Be sure to include the location of at least one desert on your data sheet.

Desert Animals:

There are many kinds of animals and plants that live in the desert, even though there is very little water. Visit http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ and learn about some different desert animals.

Be sure to select desert animals in your search. After reading about desert animals, record information about two desert animals on your data sheet.

National Geographic Society, 2015

National Geographic Society, National Geographic for Kids, 2015.

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Image source: By Arturo de Frias Marques (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Image source: By Arturo de Frias Marques (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons In class, we have been learning about different habitats around the world. Remember, the natural homes of plants and animals are called habitats.

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Taken at the back of the school by a brilliant photographer

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Taken at the back of the school by a brilliant photographer

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https://htwins.net/scale2/

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How to Monitor for Fruit Pests: Using a Beating Tray

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Welcome to Invasive Species Ireland

Invasive non-native plant and animal species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide after habitat destruction. They can negatively impact on native species, can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems causing serious problems to the environment and the economy.

Invasive Species Ireland was a joint project between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the National Parks and Wildlife Service which ended in March 2013

However, even though the project is no longer active, both organisations still work closely together relating to invasive species issues which concern the whole of the island of Ireland. This website still acts as a gateway to information relating to those Invasive Species Ireland issues. From here, users can still find information on a range of species, policy related to individual species or groups of species, and action plans to deal with species that threaten the biodiversity and economies of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to the environment but with your help we can make a difference.

Why not follow our page today and keep informed about invasive species issues in Northern Ireland and Ireland ?

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Invasive Species Ireland - Invasive Species Ireland

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Invasive non-native plant and animal species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide after habitat destruction. They can negatively impact on native species, can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems causing serious problems to the environment and the economy.

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invasive animals in ireland - Google Search

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coypu knotweed mink japanese knotweed biosecurity giant hogweed biodiversityireland ie american mink nutria plant

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A community in Connemara has declared war on weed. Letterfrack Tidy Towns Committee has joined forces with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to rid Connemara National Park of invasive plant species.

Three invasive species have been discovered within the national park, including Lesser Knotweed (Persicaria campanulata), Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria) and Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum). They are also present in Letterfrack village nearby.

"Each of these poses its own particular challenge and requires a specific plan of action to control, manage and, where possible and practicable, eradicate," said Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

A plan has been developed by NPWS and Letterfrack Tidy Towns to eradicate Lesser Knotweed in the village and national park. Minister Humphreys said this species is "not considered a major threat", and due to the small area involved, "costs will be minimal and total eradication is expected".

A small number of Giant Rhubarb plants has been discovered within the national park and in the adjacent village. The Tidy Towns committee has included it in its plan to eradicate invasive species.

Minister Humphrey's said, "it is expected that the costs involved will be low, being limited mainly to the cost of the herbicides used."

She said that the threat posed by Rhododendron is far greater a risk in the park, and if it's not treated it can have implications including replacing native plants.

"Rhododendron occurs in important habitats in Connemara National Park such as oak woodlands, bogs and heath, and is considered a problematic invasive species," she said.

"My Department carries out an annual targeted programme of works to manage the spread of Rhododendron in the park. The extent of the problem varies from area to area within the park and, having regard to the very dynamic nature of this invasive species, the targeted management programme is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring optimum efficacy.

If left unchecked, this invasive species can grow in dense thickets and replace native shrub, exclude native vegetation, and constrain native woodland regeneration. The management programme has made significant inroads into the problem and large areas of previously infested areas are now clear of the plant."

Minister Humphreys said some €13,000 has been spent since 2012 on Rhododendron clearance in Connemara National Park.

She said that the ultimate plan is to eradicate Rhododendron ponticum from all national parks - the annual Rhododendron management programme is intended to create conditions in the Park that are conducive to the protection and re-establishment of native species and, particularly, our native woodlands.

Minister Humphreys praised the local community for their efforts in helping to eradicate invasive species.

"My Department is committed to continuing this important and challenging work into the future. I would like to recognise the important contribution of volunteer groups to this work, and also to acknowledge the excellent work of my Department's staff in Connemara National Park who, along with their colleagues in National Parks around the country, have been instrumental in developing new methods to increase the effectiveness of our efforts to control this plant and other invasive species," she added.

She was responding to a parliamentary question submitted by Galway West TD, Noel Grealish.

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Community joins forces to tackle invasive plant species

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A community in Connemara has declared war on weed. Letterfrack Tidy Towns Committee has joined forces with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to rid Connemara National Park of invasive plant species. Three invasive species have been discovered within the national park, including Lesser Knotweed (Persicaria campanulata), Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria) and Rhododendron (Rhododendron [...]

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Volunteer group restores Lower Shaker Lake park's natural habitat