Scientists have told what will happen to people if all animals die out
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According to experts, in our world everything is interconnected by thin threads, and if we break at least one of them, we may not recognize the next day. This is especially true for the extinction of animals.
On our Earth, in every ecosystem, everything is interconnected. Changes in the population of one species of animal or plant can drastically affect the environment of that species, writes The Grunge.
Animal extinction is far from a new ecological phenomenon. Dinosaurs, mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and dodos are all animals, extinct centuries or even millions of years ago. It seems to many that the extinction of animals is a thing of the past. However, as modern animals disappear at an alarming rate, extinction will become common again.
Climate change includes not only rising temperatures, but also an increase in droughts and natural disasters. This, along with habitat destruction from human development and poaching, is a major cause of animal extinction.
In the first six months of 2022 alone, an area five times the size of New York was destroyed in the Amazon rainforest. Animals such as jaguars, sloths, frogs, river dolphins and monkeys are just some of the wildlife in this rainforest.
Given all the current changes in our world, another extinction of animals no longer seems like something unlikely . But what if, at some point, all animals really disappear? What will happen to our world? Will humans be able to survive?
Since all species are connected by the web of life, even the most resilient species eventually become extinct when the less resilient ones disappear. Scientists call this domino effect “co-extinction.” And as many studies show, it is climate change that is the driving force behind extinction in the 21st century.
We need to remember that while people often lose touch with nature as cities grow, we still rely on it to provide us with land, drinking water, and breathable air. Wildlife is the source of control over these factors necessary for human life. “Co-extinction” could destroy life in the ecosystem, including human life.
Animals have a positive effect on soil and plant life
A significant driver of climate change is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This element is associated with an increase in temperature. Plants absorb and store carbon dioxide from the air. However, animals (especially mammals) interact with their environment in ways that increase the amount of carbon stored in soil and trees.
How do animals affect carbon concentration in plants? In addition to eating them, they physically move the plants. Hence, they facilitate carbon movements. This means that animal populations can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
Elephants are prime examples of the physical changes that animals can make to the world, beyond the movement of carbon. Elephants in Asia and Africa scatter seeds, fertilize the soil with their excrement, and even create watering holes. Other animals rely on plants grown from these seeds, and humans benefit from plants controlling carbon dioxide.
The disappearance of bees will raise alarms
Bee populations around the world are constantly declining. While they are far from the only animals that affect plant life, they are often synonymous with pollination. They not only pollinate flowers, but also plants that are sources of food for humans.
Given the positive influence of animals on the elements that people need to survive, will people die out if animals die out? Biologist Dr Susanne Sadedin of Monash University, Australia, says yes.
In addition to pollinating food sources, we would lose forests and grasslands. This will lead to further climate change (plants absorb carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change) and less rainfall. Dr. Sadedin says that if humans do not change their behavior, they will cause a mass extinction that is estimated to wipe out 30-50% of species in the next century.