We are animals. Scientific research clearly shows this.

Ecosystems involve interactions between organisms and environments (organismorganism, and organismenvironment), and every species in an ecosystem plays some part within it. To some extent then, every species is important for the functioning of that ecosystem (including humans).

I’m not sure Wilson’s quote that, “Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius” is helpful. Likewise, the personification of nature in “Mother Nature” does not help here either – it does not exist and cannot act, having no actual agency, but is merely a concept. Yes, life is breathtaking (also in the literal sense), but as far as we can tell there is no creator and no indication of care or genius. Instead, we are products of the process of evolution – itself mindless, careless, intelligence-less – and there are many flaws in our biologies despite the amazing ways in which bodies function and which life is diverse and resilient.

Ecosystems are constantly changing, not only as a result of human action but also natural forces. This is important to recognize: nature is not pristine, it is not static, and it is not concrete, but is again a concept (see for example [1]).

We are part of nature, and yet there is a strange tendency in ('modern') society to separate ourselves from it. This general lack of connection to nature and a lack of care for others (including non-humans) and future generations is indeed central to the environmental issues faced today.

We have the capability to care and the ability to figure out ways to lessen the incidence and effect of negative impacts on the environment, and so arguably we should care, pollute less, and sometimes intervene to preserve ecosystems and promote, rehabilitate and/or control particular animal populations. While more definitely needs to be done to promote a healthier environment, I think that we should not entirely dismiss the efforts that have been and are being made. Of course, the 'war' on science by national governments such as the U.S. is definitely not helping.

How can we evaluate the relative values and importance of species in ecosystem structure and function? Research has shown that there are some species that are particularly influential in the functioning of certain ecosystems, called ‘keystone species’. These sorts of species may be considered ‘more important’ in the structure of an ecosystem. (Perhaps of interest, the person who developed this concept also suggested that humans be considered a “hyperkeystone species” [2,3].) In a short review, Gascon et al. [4] talk a bit about the values of species. Looking more into the area of conservation biology, you may find what you are looking for.

On the topic of the origin of life on Earth, a paper from March of this year – which you may find interesting – suggests life may have began as early as 4.28 billion years ago [5]. Other studies have made similar claims of a much earlier beginning to life on Earth, but as I do not specialize in that area I will not add more on this point.

References

[1] Joyce M. 2012. Constructing Nature: Art, Conservation, and Applied Zooarchaeology. Journal of Ethnobiology 32(2), 246–264. Link to full text: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2993/0278-0771-32.2.246

[2] Worm B, Paine RT. 2016. Humans as a Hyperkeystone Species. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 31(8), 600–607. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.05.008. Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534716300659

[3] Yong E. "Humans: The Hyperkeystone Species". The Atlantic. 21 June 2016. Link to full text: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/06/humans-the-hyperkeystone-species/487985/

[4] Gascon C, Brooks TM, Contreras-MacBeath T, Heard N, Konstant W, Lamoreux J, Launay F, Maunder M, Mittermeier RA, Molur S, Khalifa Al Mubarak R, Parr MJ, Rhodin AGJ, Rylands AB, Soorae P, Sanderson JG, Vié J-C. 2015. The Importance and Benefits of Species. Current Biology 25, R431–R438. Link to full text: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982215003942

[5] Dodd MS, Papineau D, Grenne T, Slack JF, Rittner M, Pirajno F, O’Neil J, Little CTS. 2017. Evidence for early life in Earth’s oldest hydrothermal vent precipitates. Nature 543, 60–64. doi: 10.1038/nature21377. Link: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v543/n7643/full/nature21377.html

Each life is important to ecosystems of this Earth. Human knowledge is still meager on such aspects.With the result, humans do not care about them & think they are all useless. Let me give just 2 examples.

1) Pipal tree cannot propagate on its own. It needs the help of a bird in whose alimentary canal enzymes  dissolve the outer covering of its seeds. Once that happens, it gets void out & then it can germinate - not otherwise. Sustenance of Pipal rests on the existence of the bird. If the flying animal becomes extinct, so does a plant.

2) In coastal Malaysia, mangrove vegetation in a particular muddy place were all cleared to make way for coastal shrimp farm. The shrimp farm succeeded but a particular variety of Mango completely disappeared from the region. The agricultural experts were surprised, as to how could this happen, as there were no cases of any diseases etc.

On further investigation, it was found out that the bats who took rest on these mangroves actually were the pollinating agents for this mango plants. When mangroves were destroyed, all these bats migrated to quite a different region. With bats gone, so did the mango disappear.

Dear Jayanta

I think our knowledge can not disappear because books and chapters are lost, this knowledge is developed as stone in the science building and the efforts of many scientists and researchers contributed during long series of generations to reach our modern achievements in the biology and other branches of science.

Regards

Dear Prof. Hassan,

Once a species is lost, it's lost for ever; it cannot be regenerated back. with its loss the whole history, evolutionary legacy, genetic and biotechnological potential and the unknown knowledge is lost. We have known only a minor fraction of the whole biodiversity. Unknown is the vast ocean of biodiversity and their hidden potentials and biological and biochemical mysteries. Even the majority of the known remains unknown. Hence with loss of the species we loss the known- both realized and potential, we get deprived of their ecosystem services that may even contribute to biological poverty!

Regards

Jayanta

Dear Jayanta

The natural selection represents a natural process and does not stop, when the environment change, it will be not suitable for some genotypes so will eliminate from the population and rise another genotype suitable for the new environment. So it is not a problem but refresh for the life and the biosystem. The extinct species will be not suitable for the recent environment, so they disappeared.

The change is continuous process during the history of the earth, and the equilibrium in the ecosystem occur after each mass extinction in the biosystem. 

Good Luck

Each line is important as every paragraph contradicts the other