I thought I’d share a beaver brain tease with you guys. During the Pleistocene period (2,58 million years ago), beavers of enormous size existed. Some grew up to 2.1 m long, weighing in at close to 300 pounds (136kg).

Can you imagine the impact a beaver of that size must have had on our environment, or how strong their jaws must have been?

The process is known as hydraulic transfer.

For example, consider the great baobab tree, located in the East African savannah. This tree is critical to the survival of many animal populations and is also known as the ‘African Tree of Life’. Yet, this life-sustaining tree depends solely on the bat for pollination. If bats were to go extinct in this area, the Tree of Life could die out, and alo

In some parts of the world, beavers were hunted close to extinction. They were killed for their fur and to prevent them from manipulating man-made landscapes.

However, recent studies have shown how important the beaver is for other species and their habitat. Dams built by beavers create ideal spawning grounds for salmon. The dams act as the perfect filter, removing fine sediment, which is ideal for salmon eggs.

Red mangroves are particularly important because they are found along the shoreline. Their submerged roots act as eco-haven for fish and crustaceans.

Red mangroves also provide a nursery habitat for larger organisms, such as the endangered American crocodile, Florida panthers and West Indian manatees.

Even humans living along the coastline rely heavily on red mangrove forests for protection. During intense storms, the mangrove forests act as a safe haven, preventing erosion and calming savage waves from breaking against the coastline villages.

Our planet would be substantially different without bats. More than 1390 species of bats around the globe are playing a pivotal role in the natural health of ecosystems and human economies.

Some bat species consume vast amounts of insects, which include some of the most damaging agricultural pests. Others pollinate valuable plants, ensuring the productions of fruits which support local communities and many animal populations.

For example, consider the great baobab tree, located in the East African savannah. This tree is critical to the survival of many animal populations and is also known as the ‘African Tree of Life’. Yet, this life-sustaining tree depends solely on the bat for pollination. If bats were to go extinct in this area, the Tree of Life could die out, and along with it one of our planet’s richest ecosystems.

Prairie dogs live underground in a complex network of burrows. These burrows actually encourage water infiltration into underground aquifers, aerate soil, distribute nutrients, and even provide a home for other

During the dry season, which typically lasts between 5-7 months, elephants use their enormous ivory tusks to dig for water.  This not only allows them to survive in extremely arid conditions or when droughts strike, but it also provides life-sustaining water for other animals.

Forest elephants create maze-like networks in the vegetation as they eat. These networks allow new plants to grow and create paths for smaller animals to roam through the thicket.

In savannahs, elephants feeding on shrubs and tree sprouts assist in keeping the vast plains open, allowing other game such as wildebeest to roam and inhabit these ecosystems freely.

In some parts of the world, beavers were hunted close to extinction. They were killed for their fur and to prevent them from manipulating man-made landscapes.

However, recent studies have shown how important the beaver is for other species and their habitat. Dams built by beavers create ideal spawning grounds for salmon. The dams act as the perfect filter, removing fine sediment, which is ideal for salmon eggs.

Prairie dogs are herbivores, they eat different sorts of grasses and do an excellent job at keeping them trimmed. This allows a diverse amount of plant species to grow in unison by sharing the same habitat. Insects, birds, and all sorts of wildlife benefit from this.

By keeping the grass trimmed, prairie dogs even alter the water cycle during arid conditions. Less plant surface equals less water evaporation. More water stored in the soil means greener grass for a longer period of time. In turn, this allows animal species to feed for a longer time

Red mangroves are particularly important because they are found along the shoreline. Their submerged roots act as eco-haven for fish and crustaceans.

Red mangroves also provide a nursery habitat for larger organisms, such as the endangered American crocodile, Florida panthers and West Indian manatees.

Even humans living along the coastline rely heavily on red mangrove forests for protection. During intense storms, the mangrove forests act as a safe haven, preventing erosion and calming savage waves from breaking against the coastline villages.

Our planet would be substantially different without bats. More than 1390 species of bats around the globe are playing a pivotal role in the natural health of ecosystems and human economies.

Some bat species consume vast amounts of insects, which include some of the most damaging agricultural pests. Others pollinate valuable plants, ensuring the productions of fruits which support local communities and many animal populations.

For example, consider the great baobab tree, located in the East African savannah. This tree is critical to the survival of many animal populations and is also known as the ‘African Tree of Life’. Yet, this life-sustaining tree depends solely on the bat for pollination. If bats were to go extinct in this area, the Tree of Life could die out, and along with it one of our planet’s richest ecosystems