Everything on this planet is interconnected and we all depend on each other for the sake of survival. Humans too are part of the great circle of life.

Everything on this planet is interconnected and we all depend on each other for the sake of survival. Humans too are part of the great circle of life. If certain animals were to disappear for good, then life as we know it would be turned upside down. For example, if certain species of plants and flowers disappeared, oxygen levels would drop rapidly. And this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the disastrous consequences that would await us if this were to happen. Below are five living things that we absolutely need to survive.  1. Plankton There are over 50,000 different species of plankton in the ocean; some can even be seen all the way from space when they glow at night. These tiny creatures are food for many sea creatures including dolphins, whales, fish and even seabirds. But undeniably, their most important role is that they’re responsible for half of the world’s oxygen—the other half coming from trees and plants. This is because phytoplankton absorb energy from the sun and nutrients from the water that leads to photosynthesis during which oxygen is released as a waste product.  2. Bees In recent years, we’ve been hearing about how bee populations are declining and the trouble this could spell for us. Bees are known for being busy workers who spend the majority of their time drinking nectar from flowers. In the process, they transport pollen from flower to flower, which allows the plants to fertilize and produce fruit. This is known as pollination and without bees, many species of plants would disappear. Sadly, pollution, pesticides and climate change have reduced their numbers by nearly eighty percent. 3. Fish Fish are more than just a food source for us—they aid in maintaining the ocean’s delicate acidic pH balance. This is due to their excrement, which floats to the surface of the water, then dissolves and turns into carbon dioxide that helps to maintain the ocean’s acid levels. Recent studies have shown that overfishing is depleting the oceans of its fish and with a population of seven billion humans, the poor fish aren’t able to keep up with the growing demands. 4. Birds Many of us don’t realize it, but birds are very hard-working multitaskers. These creatures help keep the insect populations in check. But some also eat fruits and nuts from trees and flowers that also contribute to pollination and seed sowing by spreading the pollen and seeds from one location to another. Some of their other duties are soil aeration thanks to their droppings which affect the soil’s acidity levels and in turn increases the nutrient levels in the soil. 5. Worms Yes, we need those slithering, creepy crawlies too! They don’t look like they do much, but worms help to dramatically reduce the amount of waste that is dumped in landfills. They also aid in cutting down green matter and the large amount of waste that is produced every day in households. Moreover, people have been converting worms into natural garbage composting systems that break down waste that become fertilizers for gardens and plants. This is especially great for those of you with green thumbs. &nbsp;

Animals We Need to Survive

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