Not long ago, we told you about animals that don’t give a damn about global warming, but don’t worry, they’re not all like that. Joking aside, if all animals have a use in the ecosystem, some seem to work a little more than others if you ask me.
1. The bee
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Oh well yes of course the bees we put them at the top of this top. Firstly because they contribute to the pollination of 80% of wild plants and 75% of cultivated plants. However, this big job that they do simply allows the plants to survive. In short, a world without bees is simply not possible.
2. Squirrels
Snails aren’t just for eating with garlic butter, some of them serve a purpose you probably didn’t realize like squirrel. Weighing only 5 grams, this charming little animal has a devouring passion for lead, which it sucks up while moving on the ground, for example. What interests us? Well, by analyzing their tissues, we can assess the level of metals present in the soils of a region. Pretty handy info.
3. This tiny shrimp
Two centimeters and all its teeth, the gammarus squats especially in the rivers in Europe. A bit like the squirrel, its role will be above all that of a bio-indicator since it makes it possible to assess the level of water pollution. Being very sensitive to insecticides, it suffices to analyze the evolution of the behavior of a few specimens a few weeks apart to find out more about the various pollutants contained in the water.
4. Field mouse
In 2006, a team of researchers was able to take blood samples from 3,000 field mice on the former Metaleurop site in Pas-de-Calais. The results were able to reveal the metal concentration of the soils as well as its level of acidity. In itself the field mouse does not do much but a bit like the aforementioned animals, it provides us with valuable information.
5. These tadpoles that become fluorescent in the presence of endocrine disruptors
Well, in fact, we help them a little… Researchers have injected the eggs of a frog endowed with a capacity of fluorescence when its thyroid hormone is disturbed, in order to “increase” them genetically. The luminosity level of tadpoles thus makes it possible to assess their exposure to endocrine disruptors. If you want to know more I recommend this insanely complete article.
6. Tapir
The tapir doesn’t just have a funny name. It is also a serious ally. With its face of interstellar pig, it acts sustainably on biodiversity by feeding on 300 plant species whose seeds it disseminates through its excrement, which makes it possible to regenerate tropical forests.
7. Sea Otter
Besides being extremely cute, the sea otter does a great job. By dint of eating everything and anything and especially sea urchins, it protects certain algae such as kelp (the sea urchin being a big eater of kelp, the otter which eats the sea urchin protects the kelp, cqfd my sister). This is how the otter makes itself indispensable to the stability of the ecosystem.
8. Forest Elephant
Contrary to what one might think, elephants aren’t just slow-walking clumps. In Central Africa, they play a vital role in the preservation of forests through an unexpected stratagem: by crushing the bushes with their big paws, they allow the trees to develop better. And trees, I don’t know if you’re aware of them, but they capture CO2. These little beasts are very practical.
9. The Whale
Like almost everything in the ocean (and the ocean itself for that matter), the whale plays a fundamental role in the fight against global warming since it captures CO2 (by tens of tons) and takes it with her to the bottom of the ocean when she swings the gun left. Moreover, it feeds all the small phytoplankton with its excrement (yes, whale shit is much more useful than ours, I know it hurts to hear but it is). But phytoplankton provide 40% of the oxygen we breathe (it’s four times more than the Amazonian forest, this big sucker).
10. Mosquitoes
Yes my little friends, mosquitoes being one of the most dangerous animals for humans, humans being the biggest polluter on the planet, we can thank mosquitoes for putting us in misery.
AaaaaaHA YOU DIDN’T EXPECT THIS I THOUGHT YOU WELL.