ENVIRO-ARTICLE

BENIG, JUNELA M.
10 – ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE
 - - BIODIVERSITY - -
Biodiversity not only keeps the ecosystem functional; it is also a source of food, shelter, clothing, and other resources. Biodiversity is
important to the economy because it offers renewable economic resources and ecosystem services, as well as medicinal and scientific
advantages and is valuable in terms of cultural and aesthetic qualities. Biodiversity provides a variety of ecosystem services, which are critical
to human survival and the economy. Different organisms are responsible for controlling invasive or pest species, maintaining soil fertility,
pollinating and thereby maintaining diverse vegetation, purifying air and water, detoxifying and decomposing wastes, and regulating climate.
These ecosystem services are complex natural processes that are interrelated in ways that are not completely understood. Therefore, the
impact of losing any one of these processes on our economy is unknown. One of the most valuable and vital resources we have is
biodiversity. We tend to think of it as something that is just beautiful to look at and enjoy spending time in, but it is so much more. Our whole
support structure for human and animal existence would collapse in the absence of biodiversity. We rely on nature to provide us with food and
clean water, as well as many medications and to keep flooding and other extreme weather events at bay. The natural ecosystems that surround
us supply so much, they are actually essential to life on Earth. We believe that if humans simply trash one area or remove one species,
everything will be fine, but various plants and animals are interrelated in fundamental ways that we don't often comprehend. Specifically,
Grasslands clearly provide the feed base for grazing livestock and thus numerous high-quality foods, but such livestock also provide products
such as fertilizer, transport, traction, fibre and leather. In addition, grasslands provide important services and roles including as water
catchments, biodiversity reserves, for cultural and recreational needs, and potentially a carbon sink to alleviate greenhouse gas emissions. As
Anna Heslop, Lawyer, head of wildlife and habitats said, “Huge amounts of public money currently go to projects or industries which
damage the environment. We need to ensure those subsidies are going to the right places, otherwise we’re just spending public money
destroying our future survival system.”

What is biodiversity and why is it important? | ClientEarth

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
BENIG, JUNELA M. | ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE
 TAMARAW
The tamaraw or Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis) is a
small hoofed mammal belonging to the family Bovidae. It is endemic
to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, and is the only
endemicPhilippine bovine. It is believed, however, to have once also
thrived on the larger -
Conservation status: Critically Endangered island of Luzon. The tamaraw was originally found all over Mindoro, from sea
level up to the mountains (2000 m above sea level), but because of human
Scientific name: Bubalus mindorensis habitation, hunting, and logging, it is nowrestricted to only a few remote grassy
plains and is now a
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae criticallyendangered species. A cousin of our domestic water buffalo, they play a critical role in helping to
maintain balance in the forest and grassland ecosystems of which they are part. They are one of 11
Kingdom: Animalia remainingwild cattle species. Despite their short stature, they are known for their big personalities. Contrary to
commonbelief and past classification, the tamaraw is not a subspecies of the local carabao, which is only
Phylum: Chordata slightly larger, or the common water

Buffalo. In contrast to the carabao, it has a number of distinguishing characteristics; it is slightly hairier, has light markings on its face, is
not gregarious, and has shorter horns that are somewhat V-shaped. It is the second-largest native terrestrial mammal in the country next
only to the carabao. One great way to know what age the Tamaraw is,

is by their V-shaped horns. The length of their horns can be useful. The habitat preferences of the tamaraw have somewhat expanded to lower-altitude grassy planes. They It is typically found
in thick brush, near open-canopied glades, where it may feed on grasses. Since human habitation and subsequent forest fragmentation of their home island of Mindoro, the habitat preferences
of the tamaraw have somewhat expanded to lower-altitude grassy planes. Similar to other bovines, the tamaraw wallows in mud pits. This behavior may be employed by the animals to avoid
biting insects. Another distinct behavior in B. mindorensis is its fierceness. Reports have been made concerning their fierceness when cornered, although most are unsubstantiated. Threat
posture used by the bovine involves lowering of the head, and shifting its horns into a vertical position. This is accompanied with a lateral shaking of the head. Tamaraws are also described as
being aggressive towards humans.

Traditionally, tamaraws were active during the day, feeding in close proximity to human ranching operations. Activity patterns now appear more nocturnal, with days spent resting in dense
vegetation. Very little is known about communication in tamaraws. Aggression is expressed through head movements and adult bulls will occasionally communicate dominance by chasing
subordinate males from food sources or potential mates. It is likely that tamaraws communicate also through some auditory and chemical cues Tamaraws are herbivorous, feeding on grass
species such as Cynodon arcuatus, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eleusine indica, Sorghum nitidum, Paspalum scrobilatum, Alloteropsis semialata, and Vetiveria zizanoides. During the rainy season
they feed on shoots of bamboo (Schizostachyum spp.). The Batangans, a tribal group practicing slash-and-burn agriculture on Mindoro, frequently burn small plots for agriculture. Tamaraws
often visit these newly burned locations to feed on grass shoots.. Tamaraws have no known native predators on Mindoro, and frequently fed in the open during daylight, suggesting little
concern for predation. Humans are the only predator of tamaraws, and the development of Mindoro has also led to a more secretive and nocturnal lifestyle for tamaraws.

Tamaraw – Wikipedia
ADW: Bubalus mindorensis: INFORMATION (animaldiversity.org