Praise the Humble Dung Beetle, Essay Example

According to some scientists, the disappearance of one small insect from  the Earth: dung beetles can have more impact on the population than the extinction of polar bears. While many people’s heart stops when looking at a cuddly white polar bear standing on the edge of a disappearing icy island, they do not feel sorry for the dung beetle at all. It is not cute, and its usefulness is not commonly known.

Indeed, today’s ecosystems rely on insects more than one would think. Butterflies and bees are distributing pollen; without their work, no fruit would grow. Likewise, dung beetles dispose of animal waste, and turn it back into a useful form of nutrient; needed for plants. Plants provide food for animals, and therefore, one chain of the ecosystem damaged can cause mass extinction of many species.

While nobody finds moths and spiders, they have an important role on Earth; once they disappear, catastrophe will follow. Kiernan Suckling, a member and co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity clearly states that insects and plants feed the planet; without them, life would not be possible in its current form.

While polar bears and snow tigers are cute, less depends on their survival than the diversity of plants and invertebrates. Unfortunately, even the Endangered Species Act fails to recognize the crucial role of these plants and animals, and this can result in the extinction of the most important species on Earth.

Works Cited

Begley, Sharon Begley: Praise the Humble Dung Beetle. Newsweek. 2008. Web.