In this age of iPhones and electric cars, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that we are all animals in a food web. Despite our technological prowess, we are completely dependent on nature and the services provided by the world’s biological diversity.
To appreciate just how interconnected each on of us is with the natural world, it is an interesting exercise to think about all the many species that contribute to any particular thing we do. This forms one of the the assignments in our second-year Biological Diversity course, Ecol202. We call it the biodiversity night out. Alone or in small groups, students are asked to collate a list of all the species that are directly or indirectly responsible for a fun thing they do.
Here are four of the best assignments from last year’s class.
Gerrit Roux (April 2011)
For the biodiversity night out, my family and I decided to have a barbeque. This was a great opportunity for me to use the steaks from the tahr that I had hunted during the summer break. With the tahr steaks we had baked potatoes with two different types of salads. For desert we had fruit salad with cream. The table we had dinner on, as well as the salt and pepper pots, are made from native wood from South Africa.
Himalayan Tahr, Hemitragus jemlahicus (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: Indian introduction
Service: grilled steak
Potato, Solanum tuberosum (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Solanales, Solanaceae)
Origin: Americas
Service: baked potatoes
Lettuce, Luctuca sativa (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterales, Asteraceae)
Origin: Egypt
Service: part of salad
Cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Cucurbitales, Cucurbitaceae)
Origin: India
Service: part of salad
Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Solanales, Solanaceae)
Origin: South America
Service: part of salad
Avocado: Persea Americana (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Laurales, Lauraceae)
Origin: Mexico
Service: part of salad
Cotton plant, Gossypium hirsutum (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Malvales, Malvaceae)
Origin: Tropical and Subtropical regions of Africa and America
Service: Material for clothes and table cloth
Carrot, Daucas carota (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Apiales, Apiaceae)
Origin: Iran and Afghanistan
Service: carrot salad
Snow Tussock, Chionochloa spp. (Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Cyperales, Poaceae)
Origin: New Zealand native
Service: food for tahr
Tamboti, Spirostachys Africana (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae)
Origin: South Africa
Service: wood that dinner table is made of
Zebrawood, Delbergia melanoxylon (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Legumino, Leguminoceae)
Origin: Southern Africa
Service: wood that salt and pepper pots are made of
Pineapple, Ananas comosum (Angiosperms, Monocots, Poales, Bromeliaceae)
Origin: Southern America
Service: Part of corrot salad
Orange, Citrus sinensis (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Sapindales, Rutaceae)
Origin: southern China
Service:fruit juice
Peach, Prunis persica (Magnoliopsida, Rosales, Rosaceae)
Origin: China
Service:fruit juice and also part of fruit salad
Apple, Malus domestica (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosales, Rosaceae)
Origin: Central Asia
Service: part of fruit salad
Pear, Pyrus spp. (Magnoliopsida, Rosales, Rosaceae)
Origin: Sweden
Service: part of fruit salad
Cow, Bos taurus (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: Europe and Asia
Service: milk for cream with fruit salad
Rye grass, Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: Euracia and northern Africa
Service: food for the cows
White clover, Trifoliumrepens (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: Euracia and northern Africa
Service: nitrogen fixation and food for cows
Honeybee, Apis mellifera (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollination of plants
Overall, my family and I had a great night! Previously I had not really put any thought into what species contribute to my day-to-day life. While I was doing my research into the species that didn’t have a direct influence on my night, I realised that we as humans are very dependent on other species. Our very basic needs include food, clothing and shelter. Clothing can still possibly be made from synthetic materials, but the food we eat and the houses we live in, depend on other species to a great extent! Human survival would not be possible without other species, and I believe it is very clear that we are totally dependant on other species for our survival.
Leicester Murray (April 2011)
My evening of biodiversity fun took place with friends in our neighborhood around the table enjoying a meal and drinking wine.
Clothing.
Leather shoes;
Cow: Bos taurus (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: Like most domestic animals, Bos taurus (domestic cow) is currently found throughout much of the world. The wild ancestors of cows were native to northern Africa, Europe, and southern Asia.
Service: Provided the leather for my shoes.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fed the cow that provided the leather for my shoes.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the cow that provided the leather for my shoes.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollinated the clover that fertilised the rye grass and fed the cow that provided the leather for my shoes.
Denim jeans;
Cotton: Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium hirsutum, (Malvaceae)
Origin: South Asia, South America, Africa, and India.
Service: provided the cloth for my jeans.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: pollinated the cotton that provided the cloth for my jeans.
Cotton shirt;
Cotton: Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium hirsutum, (Malvaceae)
Origin: South Asia, South America, Africa, and India.
Service: provided the cloth for my jeans.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: pollinated the cotton that provided the cloth for my jeans.
Woolen jersey;
Sheep: Ovis aries (Ovis, Caprinae, Bovidae)
Origin: Middle East, Central Asia, and Southern Europe.
Service: Provided the wool for my jersey.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales,
Poaceae)Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fed the sheep that provided the wool for my jersey.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the sheep that provided the wool for my jersey.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: pollinated the clover that fertilised the rye grass and fed the sheep that provided the wool for my jersey.
Cotton underwear;
Cotton: Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium hirsutum, (Malvaceae)
Origin: South Asia, South America, Africa, and India.
Service: provided the cloth for my underwear.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: pollinated the cotton that provided the cloth for my underwear.
Dinner.
Starter.
Rice crackers: Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima.(Poaceae)
Origin: Asia.
Service: provided the ingredient for the cracker.
NB. Is a wind pollinated annual and is the most cultivated cereal crop in the world.
Wheat biscuits: Triticum spp.(Triticeae, Pooideae, Poaceae)
Origin: Fertile Crescent region of the Near East.
Service: provided the ingredient for the biscuit.
NB. Is a self pollinated annual.
Goat’s Cheese:
Goat: Capra aegagrus hircus (Capra, Caprinae, Bovidae)
Origin: Asia Minor across the Middle East to Sind.
Service: provided the milk for the goats cheese.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollinated the clover that fertilised the rye grass and fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
Quince pate.
Quince: Cydonia oblonga,(Maloideae or Spiraeoideae, Rosaceae)
Origin: Caucasus region of Asia.
Service: Provided the fruit for the pate.
NB. Quince is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail, Bucculatrix bechsteinella, Bucculatrix pomifoliella, Coleophora cerasivorella, Coleophora malivorella, Green Pug and Winter Moth.
Main course:
Organic Pork: Domestic Pig Sus scrofa domesticus (Sus, suidae)
Origin: Archeological evidence suggests that pigs were domesticated from wild boar as early as 13,000–12,700 BC in the Near East in the Tigris Basin.
Service: Provided the pork meat.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollinated the clover that fertilised the rye grass and fed the goat that provided the milk for the goats cheese.
Apple sauce:
Apple: Malus domestica (Maleae, Maloideae or Spiraeoideae, Rosaceae)
Origin: Western Asia.
Service: Provided the fruit for the sauce.
NB. There are more than 7500 known cultivars of apple.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: most commonly used to pollinate the apple tree.
Potatos: Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae)
Origin: Originated in the region of southern Peru
Service: Provided a vegetable.
Bumblebee: Bombus (Apinae, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: Pollinated the potato.
Carrots: Daucus carota (Apiaceae)
Origin: Europe and Southwestern Asia.
Service: Provided a vegetable.
Lettuce: Lactuca sativa (Asteraceae)
Origin: Ancient Egypt.
Service: Provided a vegetable.
Dessert:
Roasted Fig: Ficus carica (Ficeae)
Origin: Asia and the Mediterranean.
Service: Provided a fruit (although it’s actually the inflorescence that we eat).
Honey: Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe.
Service: to sweeten the roasted figs.
Icecream:
Cow: Bos taurus (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: Like most domestic animals, Bos taurus (domestic cow) is currently found throughout much of the world. The wild ancestors of cows were native to northern Africa, Europe, and southern Asia.
Service: Provided the milk for the icecream.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fed the cow that provided the milk for the icecream.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa.
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the cow that provided the milk for the icecream.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollinated the clover that fertilised the rye grass and fed the cow that
provided the milk for the icecream.
Coffee: Coffea arabica, (Coffeeae, Rubiaceae)
Origin: Ethiopia
Service: Provided a seed / bean for a drink.
Wines:
Pinot noir: Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae)
Origin: Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran.
Service: Provided a fruit for a drink.
Table:
Oak: Quercus spp. (Fagaceae)
Origin: Eastern North America and Europe.
Service: Provided timber for the table.
Biological diversity played a paramount roll in our evening out. The most interesting result I found was what a key role bees play in the ecosystems that we rely on to feed and clothe us. The list could potentially be exhaustive and I refined some of the contents to our meal and enjoyment, however this was an interesting exercise and makes one aware of natures function to our everyday existence.
Michael Smith, Sam Rumary, and Florian Risse (April 2011)
Meeting at Michael’s house for cooking dinner and having a nice evening while reflecting on how biodiversity affects this evening.
For our night out, Sam and Flo, got the bus to my place(Michael). The Bus uses a combination of diesel and bio fuel. We cooked our meals using Rapeseed oil. As we cooked the meal we discussed the various layers of animals that contributed to our meal. It was evident that from the single celled eukaryotes to the multicellular plants and animals: that every meal we cooked was reliant on a number of different species. It was quite a cold night, so wearing merino and
cotton layers was a must. Since jeans were worn some of us also required leather belts to hold them up. One person was wearing a leather jacket.
Night out involving the clothes that were worn, petrol for car and the inside of my house.
Cotton: Gossypium spp.( Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Malvales, Malvaceae)
Origin: Arab merchants brought cotton cloth to Europe about 800 A.D.
Service: Provides us with thin material to make clothes. Largely self pollinated.
Sheep: Ovis aries (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: the sheep is supposed to have been domesticated in the Neolithic period about 10,000 years ago in Asia.
Service: Provide merino wool for carpets in our house, lining in cars and for human clothing. Curdled milk is used to make organic paint.
Rye grass: Lolium perenne (Angiosperm, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa
Service: Provides food for cows and sheep.
White clover: Trifolium repens, (Angiosperm, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: domesticated from Eurasia and northern Africa
Service: fertilised the rye grass and fed the cow and sheep.
Honeybee: Apis mellifera, (Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae)
Origin: Europe
Service: pollinates the clover
Nitrogen fixing Bacteria: Rhizobium Sp.(Proteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Rhizobium)
Origin: Bacteria were around well before humans.
Service: Fix nitrogen for clover
Milipedes : Diplopoda sp. ( Arthropoda, Diplopoda)
Origin: Well before humans.
Service: Decompose plants, and other insects and leave the soil with nutritious organic matter.
Cow: Bos taurus (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae)
Origin: domesticated from Europe and Asian wild species.
Service: Provides us with leather for shoes and jackets and belts.
Geese : Branta canadensis, (Chordata, aves, anseriformes, anatidae)
Origin: This species of geese originate from the temperate and arctic regions of North America.
Service: Provide down feathers for warmth in a assortment of clothing.
Corn : Zea mays L. ( Magnoliophya, liliopsida, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: Indians in the Americas 5000 years ago.
Service: Crushed up corn is used to fatten up geese. Is self pollinated.
Wheat : Triticum aestivum L. (Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida,Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: Fertile Crescent in the Middle East.
Service: Feed for the geese. Is self pollinated.
Rapeseed: Sinaois arvensis L. (Magnoliophyta, magnoliopsida, Capparales, Brassicaceae.)
Origin: Was first used for cars as a lubricant in steam engines, but the oil was first recorded in the 14th century.
Service: The oil is used as a mix with petrol to allow my friends to come to my house. It was also used for oil in our cooking.
Pollination is by the Honey bee (please see honey bee above).
Night out involving cooking fried rice.
(Consists of Chinese cabbage, peanuts, onions, garlic, chilli, chicken, rosemary and basil.)
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa chinensis (Spermatophyta, magnoliopsida, Capparales, Brassicaceae)
Origin: Were popular in southern China and SE Asia. Because of them being winter hardy, they were commonly grown in Northern Europe.
Service: Used World-wide in Chinese cuisine.
Peanut, Arachis hypogaea (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids, Fabales, Fabaceae)
Origin: Came from South America. Thought to be first domesticated by the Inca people of ancient Peru. Was spread with the slave trade to many areas of the world. In the 20th Century it became popular world-wide as it was recognised as a health food.
Service: Used as a food and snack throughout the food. Also recognised for its oils as a health product. Used in our fried rice.
Onions, Allium cepa (Angiosperms, Monocots, Asparagales, Alliacaea)
Origin: Related to a wild species in central Asia called A. oschanini and thought to be from a hybrid form this region. Benn used for thousands of years, and thought to be first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and also remnants of onions have been found dating back as far a 5000BC.
Service: Used world-wide as food flavouring and a vegetable. It is also recognised as a health food because it contains antioxidants and is believed to help with conditions such a common cold through to heart disease.
Garlic, Allium sativum (Angiosperms, monocots, Asparagales, Alliaceae).
Origin: Thought to originate from central Asia. It is mentioned in the Bible. Grown globally but China the largest producer.
Service: Used as a spice in cooking. Also as a medicine for medical reasons such as reducing cholesterol or even helps prevent some cancers. Used in our fried rice
Chilli, Capsicum annuum L. (Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Solanales, Solanaceae).
Origin: Originated in the Americas. Then varieties transported throughout the world.
Service: Used in medicine and in food for spice. Used in our Chinese takeaway.
Chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus (Animalia, Chordata, Aves, Galliformes, Phasianidae)
Origin: Chickens were first domesticated from Indian decent for the purpose of cock fighting.
Service: Chicken meat, eggs. Used in our fried rice
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis (Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids, Lamilales, Lamiaceae)
Origin: Native to Mediterranean region
Service: a spice in cooking. Used in our fried rice
Basil, Ocimum basilicum (Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids, Lamiales, Lamiales, Lamiaceae).
Origin: originates from India. Commonly used herb in Asian cuisine.
Service: Used in our fried rice as a herb.
Burger: Consists out of pork, lettuce, onion, garlic, cheese, egg and bread.
Pig, Sus scrofa domestica (Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Suidae, Sus)
Origin: Today it is hold in life stocks and farmed in vast numbers all over the world. But the first domesticated examples were brought to Europe from the Near East centuries ago.
Usage: Meat in the burger.
Lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., (Magnoliophyla, Magnoliopsida, Asterales, Asteraceae, Lactuca)
Origin: Has many relative species all over the world.
Usage: It is a typical salad seen on many different varieties of burgers.
- +Earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, (Annelida, Clitellata, Haplotaxida, Lumbricina)
Origin: Native to Europe
Usage: Helps to aerate and mixes the soil in which plants including the lettuce, onions, garlic and grasses retrieve their nutrients and minerals from for growing.
Onion, Allium cepa, (Angiosperms, Monocots, Asparagales, Alliaceae, Allium)
Origin: This is a cultivated species only but wild relatives occur in Central Asia.
Usage: Gives nice flavour to the burger.
Garlic, Allium sativum, ( Angiosperms, Monocots, Asparagales, Alliaceae, Subfam.: Allioidcae, Tribe: Allieae, Allium)
Origin: Native to Central Asia, but became naturalized in many areas worldwide.
Usage: Seasoning in the burger meat.
Cheese, made from cow’s milk.
- Cow, Bos taurus taurus, ( Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae, Bos)
Origin: Species of wild cattle could be found all over the world once. This is one
under hundreds of different breeds and probably the most recognizable one. It is hard to tell where it was first bred.Usage: Production of milk which is in return used for producing different styles of cheese.
- Common Grass, Poaceae spp., ( Angiosperms, Monocots, Commelinids, Poales, Poaceae)
Origin: Hundreds of species dispersed around the globe. What is common to you depends on the part of the world you are in.
Usage: Energy input for cow to produce milk.
Egg from chicken.
Chicken, G.g. domesticus, ( Chordata, Aves, Galliformes, Phasianidae, Gallus, Gallus gallus)
Origin: It originates from India where it was first known to be domesticated and was brought to Persia and South Asia for as fighting fowl. Later on it use as food supplier for eggs and meat became more important also to Europeans.
Usage: Layer of the burger.
Bread
Wheat, Triticum spp. (Angiosperms, Monocots, Commenlinids, Poales, Poaceae, Subfamily: Pooideae, Tribe: Triticeae, Triticum)
Origin: Fertile Crescent regions of the Near East.
Usage: Used for producing flour to bake bread. This knowledge was setting the foundations for settlement because we were then able to remain at one place and produce food rather than hunting or gathering it.
As seen at all these examples of species which have seemingly nothing to do with each other they are highly dependent on each other and this dependency will ultimately bind our survival as a species to theirs. Showing those examples not even scratches the surface of the most often highly complex interactions between different species. As different species rely heavily on others we do on them, too. Most of what we eat, wear or build our shelter with is made from living organisms which are taken out of a system. In order to keep our “life support”system running it is essential that we conserve and support biodiversity with all means.
Cathy Mountier (April 2011)
I went out one afternoon with a friend on a motorbike, to a café. We sat in the sun and had a beer and talked. Later we had coffee and cake, then went for a walk in a nearby park.
I could have gone on and on with my list, with more obscure connections, but have other things to do!
(Maybe,.. the worms that live in the paddock of grass that made the silage that fed the cow….or the lice on the seabirds that pooped onto a guano island which was harvested to make fertiliser to feed the grass that fed the cow whose hide was tanned to make the leather that made my shoes….or, the blueberries in the muesli that the waitress had for breakfast, who served my coffee…..or the squirrel that buried the acorn that grew the oak tree which was the great great grandparent of the one I walked under in the park….)
|
Thing Enjoyed |
What it contained |
Taxonomy |
Origin |
Service |
|
People |
Chordata, Mammalia, Primates, Hominidae, Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 |
Europe |
Companionship, symbiotic fun, entertainment |
|
|
Beer |
Barley |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida Poales, Poaceae,Hordeum, |
Europe |
Malted barley used to make beer |
|
Hops |
Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Urticales, Cannabaceae, Humulu, |
North America |
Ingredient in Beer |
|
|
Yeast |
Saccharomycetaceae Saccharomyces Meyen ex E.C. Hansen 1838 |
Europe |
Ingredient in beer |
|
|
Sugar |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Poales Poaceae Saccharum spp. |
South Asia |
Ingredient in beer |
|
|
Outdoor furniture |
Pine |
Pinophyta, Pinopsida, Pinales, Pinaceae,Pinus |
North America |
Seating, and horizontal surface to put the beer on. |
|
Cup of coffee |
Coffee |
Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Rubiales, Rubiaceae,Coffeeae, Coffea |
Africa |
Stimulating drink |
|
Milk from a cow |
Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae, Bos, Taxonomy |
Middle East |
Included in coffee |
|
|
Ryegrass |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Poales Poaceae, Lolium |
UK |
What the cow ate |
|
|
White clover |
Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Fabales, Fabaceae Trifolium L. |
Europe |
What the cow ate |
|
|
Gingercrunch |
Wheat flour |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Poales Poaceae, Triticum |
Middle East |
Ingredient in ginger crunch |
|
Sugar |
As above |
Ingredient in ginger crunch |
||
|
Eggs from chickens |
Chordata, Aves, Galliformes,Phasianidae, Gallus |
South West Asia |
Ingredient in ginger crunch |
|
|
Butter from a cow |
As for milk from a cow |
Ingredient in ginger crunch |
||
|
Ginger |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Zingiberales, Zingiber Zingiber |
South Asia |
Ingredient in ginger crunch |
|
|
Park |
Grass |
Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Poales Poaceae, various |
Europe |
Ground cover |
|
Oak Trees |
Eudicots, Rosids, Fagales, Fagaceae, Quercus, Quercus robur |
Europe, North Africa |
Shade, shelter, and aesthetics |
|
|
Motorbike |
Rubber Tyres, seals, etc |
Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Malpighiales, Euphorbiaceae, Heavea sp Taxonomy |
Amazon |
Transport |
|
Fuel, vinyl, and other components made from oil |
Prehistoric vegetation |
Underground |
Transport |
|
|
Cork gaskets |
Eudicots, Rosids, Fagales, Fagaceae, Quercus, Quercus suber |
Europe |
Transport |
|
|
Bees, other insects |
Arthropoda, Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Apidae, Apis mellifera |
Europe |
Pollinating flowers of plants |
|
|
Shoes |
Leather from cattle |
As for cow |
Footwear |
|
|
Clothes |
Cotton |
Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida, Malvales,Malvaceae Gossypium sp |
Asia, South America |
Warmth, protection |
|
Wool from Sheep |
Chordata, Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Bovidae, Ovis |
Middle East, Central Asia |
Warmth, protection |
Yes, this short and enjoyable interlude in my life, did include the use of products derived from many species of plants and animals. And every species I listed is part of food webs and ecosystems that contain many other species. I have no doubt at all that I wouldn’t exist, let alone have fun, without the input of thousands, possibly zillions, of other life forms. Thanks to all!
This exercise reminds me of a Buddhist meditation practice that you look at something, eg a flower, and see in it everything that made it. Eg the rain, the clouds that brought the rain, the wind that brought the clouds, the plants and animals that decomposed to make the soil it grows in, the worms and microbes etc that did the decomposing. This version includes abiotic factors as well as biotic.