We all know that the Everglades are home to various
forms of life, but do we ever stop to think about how each form of life
contributes to the beauty of its nature? Many people may not think about it,
but dragonflies are actually very important to every ecosystem. They are major
players in the food web, and they keep other pests at bay.
1.
Dragonflies eat annoying pests
I am not sure there are any humans in the world that
enjoy mosquitos. Not only do they pester your body by giving you unbelievably itchy
bug bites, but they can also become over abundant and destroy natural plants. Luckily,
the Everglades are not dealing with the excess of mosquitos, unlike other parts
of Florida. However, if dragonfly populations were to decrease, there is a
strong chance that the mosquito populations would increase. This is because the
mosquitos would have less predators and a higher survival rate. If the
Dragonfly population stays at its current level, the chance of other pests,
like mosquitos, becoming overpopulated is unlikely.
2.
They are food for other critters
Without dragonflies, there would be less food for
other creatures that inhabit the Everglades. Many amphibians, birds, and other
aquatic animals all rely on dragonflies and their nymphs for food. If dragonflies
were to become endangered or even extinct in the Everglades, the other wildlife
would be greatly impacted. There would be less sources of food, therefore,
those creatures higher up on the food chain would be with less food and become
unstable, inevitably impacting other species.
Thankfully, the Everglades is home to many beautiful
species of dragonflies, such as the Halloween Pennant Dragonfly. This incredible
insect is not only crucial for the balance of the ecosystem, but it is also a
magnificent sight for all of the tourists walking through the Everglades, just
like me. The dark bands across their wings makes a vibrant pattern that can be
seen from very far away. If you would like to look into all of the other
species of dragonflies that roam the Everglades, you can click here. Never
underestimate the beauty found in a small insect!
Hello, I really enjoyed the trip to the Everglades and I also mentioned the Everglades in one of my blog posts. This trip was the first time I have ever been to the Everglades, it was really cool. I think it was neat how you talk about dragonflies and their importance. A lot of people do not view them as important. I thought your post was important and brought a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of any type of bug, so I never really spent time thinking about dragonflies or what they eat or how they benefit their environments. That being said, I didn't realize they ate other bugs like mosquitos, which makes me dislike them a little less. It's interesting to think about just how much one species affects an environment. It's one thing for the population of mosquitos to go up if there aren't many dragonflies around. However, it's weird to think about how the decline in population of a single insect can negatively impact so many other species in their environment. As much as I hate bugs, I do realize they are necessary to keep other species populations at reasonable levels.
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