What would be the impact if mountain gorillas were to die out?
2006-09-30 14:42:36 · 4 answers · asked by designdavey 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
That's a very good question.
As there is no predation on these animals the impact on the ecosystem is likely to be minimal. There will be a small increase in the numbers of the many species of plant life upon which they feed. But the ecosystem would remain largely unchanged, I would imagine - although obviously loss of any species will affect the ecosystem.
Species have gone extinct throughout history. At the end of the triassic period, before the dinosaurs, some still unknown event drove 95% of all species extinct! Life clearly bounced back.
The reason for keeping gorillas and all other species from going extinct really has to do with our own appreciation of the planet. For some species there are potentially very significant ecological implications for extinction.
But for those species where there isn't a great impact we should think about the impact on our understanding of our planet, of life in general. And for gorillas, the impact on perceptions of ourselves - that we can allow one of our closest relatives to die out. It's really a philosophical issue.
2006-10-01 00:20:26 · answer #1 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becuase it's important to keep these beautiful animals alive.
And when all the animals on Earth dissapear, people are next on the list.
I for one am not looking forward to that.
2006-09-30 22:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by helpme1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No other generation would ever be able to see them.
2006-09-30 21:50:16 · answer #3 · answered by Sangokins 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For in and of themselves.
2006-09-30 23:08:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋