Habitat Conservation, Flagship Species, Complex Ecosystems, and Global Warming

Posted by John Blatchford Jul 14, 2009

Complex ecosystems have evolved over long periods ot time, and while concentrating on particualr 'flagship species' to help conserve them is useful, it is essential that their full complexity is understood if they are to remain intact.

Flagship Species

A single animal (or plant) species, usually rare and charismatic in some way, is often chosen to ‘front’ conservation efforts to save habitats and ecosystems.

The Giant Panda focuses attention on preserving China’s wild mountain bamboo ecosystems – but people ‘miss the point’ if they think that keeping a lot of pandas alive and well in zoos addresses the same issue (unless habitat restoration and eventual liberation back into the wild is the plan).

Preserving a threatened habitat will help the entire ecosystem, and in this way the well-known flagship species will thrive – indicating the success of the venture.

Complexity of Ecosystems

There is always ‘more than meets the eye’ to an ecosystem. Take the case of the red ants necessary for the survival of the Large Blue Butterfly as an example. Heath grassland, which looks good to human eyes, might be just a little bit too long (due to a decline in grazing by rabbits and sheep) for one particular species of red ant upon which the butterfly depends for survival. Understand this and management is possible – ignore it and a nice-looking, but impoverished, ecosystem will be produced.

Global Warming

As climates change around the world many species are extending their range. The European Carpenter Bee, for example, now seems to be moving north into Britain. Surely this means that many stable ecosystems are being invaded by, what are (in effect) ‘invasive species’.

Habitats have always been changing, and ecosystems adapting to the changes – but human effects (of habitat destruction and global warming) are forcing change at an unprecedented rate.