Imagine if aliens landed on Earth tomorrow. But don’t worry, they’re not here to invade! They’re just doing a galactic survey. Instead of talking to world leaders, they want to chat with our scientists. Their first question might be, “How many different life forms live on this planet?” And the surprising answer is… we don’t really know!
Hey there, curious minds! I’m Joe, and as a biologist, it’s a bit awkward to admit that we aren’t sure how many species exist on Earth. Is it 5 million? 10 million? If we count tiny microbes and extinct species, maybe it’s a trillion! It’s a big question about life on Earth, and those aliens might think we’re not very smart. But it’s not because we haven’t tried to find out.
Long ago, a guy named Aristotle tried to organize all knowledge. He thought Earth was the center of the universe, which was wrong, but his idea of organizing everything stuck around for a long time. Then came Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist who thought naming everything on Earth would reveal its secrets. He loved naming things, and his system is still used today. But like many scientists back then, he made some mistakes.
One big problem is defining what a species is. Nature is always changing, which makes it hard to count species accurately. We discover about 18,000 new species every year and have documented around 1.5 million living species so far. That’s a lot, but it’s just a small part of what’s out there. A recent guess suggests there are 8.7 million non-bacterial species on Earth. At our current pace, it would take 400 years to identify them all!
Even if we could list all the species on land, there’s still the vast ocean, home to many more creatures. Estimates of total species range from 2 to 100 million. Why such a big range? For one, scientists have only been sharing data globally through the internet for about 25 years. Also, there’s a focus on studying birds and mammals. Of the 10,000 bird species known, nearly half were identified by 1850, thanks to birdwatching. In contrast, many insect and spider species have only been found recently.
As we discover more species, our estimates get better. Current guesses suggest around 5 million living species, give or take 3 million. This doesn’t include microbes, which could number in the trillions!
It might seem overwhelming to identify, name, and describe all of Earth’s species. But think about this: the Library of Congress has nearly eight times as many books, each written by a person. If more people join in this effort, we can help tell this important story. You can’t understand a system without knowing all its parts, and you can’t protect what you don’t know exists.
Plus, we wouldn’t want to look clueless in front of the aliens! Stay curious and keep exploring!
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, consider checking out more fascinating discoveries, like a new caterpillar found in the Amazon. Whether you watch that video first or this one, it’s definitely worth your time. You’re going to love it!
Explore your local environment and create a list of as many different species as you can find. This could include plants, insects, birds, and more. Take photos or draw sketches of each species and try to identify them using online resources or field guides. Share your findings with the class and discuss the diversity you discovered.
Choose a species that interests you and create a detailed profile. Include information about its habitat, diet, behavior, and any unique characteristics. Present your profile to the class and explain why this species is important to its ecosystem.
Work in groups to classify a set of fictional species based on given characteristics. Use a simplified version of Linnaeus’s classification system to organize them into categories. Discuss the challenges you faced and how scientists might encounter similar issues in real life.
Participate in a class debate on the importance of biodiversity. One side will argue for the conservation of all species, while the other will focus on prioritizing certain species. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Use your imagination to design a new species that could exist on Earth. Consider its habitat, adaptations, and role in the ecosystem. Draw your species and write a short description. Share your creation with the class and explain how it fits into the Earth’s biodiversity.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[MUSIC]
Let’s imagine extraterrestrials land on Earth tomorrow, but they’re not here to harm humanity; they’re just conducting a galactic census. Instead of speaking to our generals or world leaders, they want to talk to our scientists—the important people. Their first question might be, “How many life forms reside on this planet?” And the answer is… well, we don’t know.
[MUSIC]
Hey smart people, Joe here. As a biologist, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that we don’t know how many species there are on Earth. Is it 5 million? 10 million? If we include microbes and extinct species, maybe it’s a trillion? It’s a fundamental question about life, and those aliens might think we’re not very knowledgeable, but it’s not like we haven’t been trying to find the answer.
Aristotle was known for organizing knowledge. His view of the universe had Earth at the center, which was largely incorrect, but for nearly two thousand years, this was how most Western science was approached. The idea was that if you could define and organize everything, you would understand the secrets of the universe.
Then came Linnaeus, who believed that by naming everything on Earth, he could unlock those secrets. Linnaeus was Swedish, and naming things became a significant pastime for him. His system for organizing names is still used by taxonomists today, but like many scientists of his time, he was mistaken in a significant way.
In our last video, we discussed the challenges of defining what a species is, which is a major reason for our uncertainty. Nature has a tendency to change, making it difficult to count species accurately. We identify about 18,000 new species each year and have documented around one and a half million living species so far. While that’s a lot, it’s still just a fraction of what exists. One recent estimate suggests there are 8.7 million non-bacterial species on Earth. At our current rate, it would take 400 years to identify them all.
Even if we managed to catalog all the species on land, there’s still significantly more area covered by water, where many organisms live. Our estimates have varied widely, ranging from 2 to 100 million species. Why such discrepancies? For one, scientists have only been able to share data globally through the internet for about 25 years. Additionally, there’s a bias towards studying birds and mammals. Of the approximately 10,000 bird species known, nearly half were identified by 1850, largely due to the popularity of birdwatching at that time. In contrast, many insect and arachnid species have only been discovered in recent decades.
Fortunately, as we discover more species, our estimates improve. Current estimates seem to converge around 5 million living species, give or take 3 million. This doesn’t include microbes, which could number in the trillions.
It may seem daunting to identify, name, and describe all of Earth’s species, but consider that the Library of Congress holds nearly eight times as many books, each written by a person. If more of us dedicate time to this effort, we can contribute to this important story. You can’t understand a system without knowing all its components, and you can’t conserve what you don’t know exists.
Plus, I’d prefer not to appear uninformed in front of the aliens. Stay curious!
Thanks for watching, everyone! I hope you’ll consider subscribing, and if you do, click the bell icon to get notified whenever we upload a new video. If you haven’t already, check out last week’s video about a fascinating new caterpillar discovered in the Amazon. This video is somewhat of a follow-up, unless you’re watching this one first, in which case it’s the first part. Either way, it’s worth a watch. You’re going to love it!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – Scientists discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest.
Microbes – Microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that can be found in various environments. – Microbes play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter in the soil.
Ocean – A vast body of saltwater that covers almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. – The ocean is home to a diverse range of marine life, including fish, whales, and coral reefs.
Insects – Small arthropods with a three-part body, six legs, and usually one or two pairs of wings. – Insects like bees are important for pollinating many of the plants we rely on for food.
Mammals – Warm-blooded vertebrates that have hair or fur and whose females produce milk to feed their young. – Humans, whales, and elephants are all examples of mammals.
Birds – Warm-blooded vertebrates with feathers, wings, and beaks, most of which are capable of flight. – Birds like eagles and hawks have excellent vision to spot their prey from high above.
Estimate – To roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of something. – Scientists estimate that there are over 8 million species of organisms on Earth.
Discover – To find or learn something for the first time. – Researchers hope to discover new medicines by studying the chemicals produced by rainforest plants.
Life – The condition that distinguishes living organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli. – Life on Earth is incredibly diverse, ranging from tiny bacteria to massive blue whales.
Nature – The physical world and everything in it that is not made by humans, including plants, animals, and landscapes. – Nature provides us with resources like clean air, water, and food.
