Source: Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, Kathryn Pintus, IUCN , "The Youth Guide to
Biodiversity" 1st Edition (Chapter 4) Youth and United Nations Global
Alliance. Reproduced with permission.
Chapter 4. Verbatim.
Services provided by species include water purification, which is carried out by molluscs such as clams and mussels. These molluscs are very common in river systems, and purify the water by filtration, making it safer to drink. Dragonflies also play an important role in freshwater ecosystems, by acting as indicators of water quality. If pollution becomes a problem in an area, dragonflies will be the first to be affected, and so a reduction in their numbers could indicate a reduction in water quality. This early warning mechanism could prove vital, as action can then be taken to resolve the problem before other species (including humans) become affected.
Wild species also provide valuable services such as pollination, the process of transferring pollen to enable reproduction in plants. Pollination is needed by most of the world’s land-based plant life. The “Animal Pollination” box discusses some of the adaptations various plant species have evolved to attract different species of animal pollinators.
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