Diversity is the key to the strength and resilience of Mother Nature. Diversity in the plant world ranges from single-celled plants, known as algae, to giant sequoia trees. The diversity of insects is almost too much to even fathom. Birds are wonderful examples of the diversity of nature. Over 11,000 different species of birds flit around the world in so many vibrant colors, shapes, and sizes.
The mammals of the world are no exception to the marvels of diversity. Over 6,600 distinct species of mammals add to the diversity of Mother Nature. There are mammals that swim in the deepest oceans, live underground, in the deserts, forests, and wetlands. We even have mammals that fly.
Each one of these species plays an important role in the health and diversity of our natural world. You can think of each and every species of plant, insect, fungi, bird, or mammal as an individual rivet on an airplane. This metaphor was first developed by Paul Ehrlich and is known as the Rivet Popper metaphor. The metaphor is used to explain the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of species extinction on the stability of our ecosystems. Thousands of rivets hold the plane together, just as thousands of species hold our ecosystems together. Some rivets are more vital than others to the plane’s ability to fly. If you lose a couple of rivets, the plane can continue to fly, but at what point and how many rivets are too many and cause the plane to crash? Depending upon where on the plane a rivet is lost will determine the viability of the plane. The important ones are considered keystone species.
The Rivet Popper illustrates that while the extinction of one species might not cause the plane to crash, the cumulative loss of biodiversity, especially the loss of a keystone species, increases the chances of the eventual collapse of the ecosystem, or the plane to crash.
Keystone species are so important to a given ecosystem. Often these keystone species are small, unnoticed, and seemingly unimportant. Some people may even question, “What good are they?”. The Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is one of these species that plays an integral part in the grassland ecosystem. I was thinking about this last week while capturing some images and video of these marvelous creatures while photographing in western North Dakota.
Prairie Dogs are “ecosystem engineers” of the grassland habitat. The list of benefits of their existence will be too much to include in this column, but let me highlight a few. Dozens of other species literally depend upon prairie dogs. The complex burrows that the dogs dig create homes for many other species, such as Burrowing Owls and the endangered Black-footed Ferret. Other critters, such as snakes, beetles, mice, voles, and others, also use their burrows.
Their digging also improves the soil health by aerating the soil, turning over the soil to recycle nutrients and helping rainwater recharge the aquifers, and preventing flooding and excess runoff. Their constant grazing on the vegetation that surrounds the prairie dog towns promotes new growth that benefits other grazers such as Bison and Pronghorn.
Dozens of other animals depend upon Prairie Dogs for food. Predators such as hawks, eagles, foxes, and coyotes often depend upon Prairie Dogs for food. The American Badger and Black-footed Ferrets almost exclusively feed on Prairie Dogs. Bobcats and Swift Foxes spend a lot of time hunting them also.
The diversity of life surrounding a Prairie Dog town is undeniable. Outside the Prairie Dog town, you just don’t see the wide variety of plants and animals, especially the predators. A healthy Prairie Dog town is the heart and soul of a healthy and productive ecosystem. Every time I visit a Prairie Dog town, I am reminded of just how important diversity is for a healthy environment. Until next time…
Stan Tekiela is an author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer who travels extensively to study and photograph wildlife. He can be followed on Instagram and Facebook. He can be contacted via his website at naturesmart.com.
