Biodiversity

In a stream, the lowest level of the food pyramid are the microalgae, mosses, fungi, lichens, bacteria (the perihyyton) that live on the stones and sediment, followed by larger waterplants and algae. These are fed upon by insect larvae and crustaceans, which are fed upon by bigger insects and birds and small fish, which are fed upon by bigger birds and bigger fish and small mammals (bats), which are fed upon by apex predators (like otters, eagles, humans). A diversity of life at each level of the food pyramid means the food pyramid is robust under varying conditions. A lack of diversity of life at any level of the food pyramid means the level above becomes overly dependant on too few species, and the system becomes fragile. Usually if any level of this food pyramid fails or is missing, the entire system breaks down. This is often caused by human intervention.

But what we unknowingly damage, we hopefully can repair once we become aware of the problem.

Biodiversity of the Black River