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Each post tells the story of one species or group of organisms and explains how their existence provides service/services to humanity.… Read More »Start here
Cases
Tapirs
What would you get if you crossed a pig with an elephant? Not literally of course, because that would be… Read More »Tapirs
Salps
Well at least this name is easy to spell and not hard to say, but what on earth is it?… Read More »Salps
Baobab trees
Baobab trees are associated with many colourful stories. In African folklore, the tree is sometimes called the upside-down tree because… Read More »Baobab trees
Secretary bird
What is about 4ft./1.3 m. tall, has amazingly luscious eyelashes and enjoys stomping and then snacking on snakes? Some new… Read More »Secretary bird
Yeast
Why stick yeast with such an outrageously unpronounceable name as Saccharomyces cerevisiae? What is it with biologists that they have… Read More »Yeast
Deep seas 1
“You could start now, and spend another forty years learning about the sea without running out of new things to… Read More »Deep seas 1
Deep seas 2
The deep sea case study overflowed. As hinted at in Deep Seas 1, there are special ecosystems in the sea… Read More »Deep seas 2
Seagrass
The term sea lilies is usually associated with echinoderm animals (or not depending on your interests). This is rather strange… Read More »Seagrass
Salt Marshes
Whenever I hear the word marsh, I think of a flat, dead landscape shrouded in thick, damp, dismal fog, peopled… Read More »Salt Marshes
Giant Kelp
Does the thought of something brown, wet and slimy that can grow up to 60 cm (2 ft) per day… Read More »Giant Kelp
Mangroves
In many parts of the world, mangroves have long been frowned upon as dirty, mosquito-infested tangles of roots that stand… Read More »Mangroves
Oysters reefs
If someone says reef, most people will immediately think of coral reefs, but there are reefs based on oysters too.… Read More »Oysters reefs
Sphagnum peatland
Sphagnum – not the easiest name to spell or say. It probably doesn’t make it any more enticing if I… Read More »Sphagnum peatland
Freshwater mussels
Yes, that is a mussel pictured above. Read on to find out what sort it is and what it does… Read More »Freshwater mussels
Rakali
If you looked at the picture and thought that looks like a rat, you may be interested to know that… Read More »Rakali
Southern Brown Bandicoot
Although it would be inaccurate to call them bandicutes, just look at that adorable little pointy nose and those darling… Read More »Southern Brown Bandicoot
Bamboo
Bamboo is in the same league as giant kelp when it comes to growing fast, but considering that, as a… Read More »Bamboo