Have you ever thought about how successful humans are as a species? With around 7 billion people on Earth, humans seem to be doing pretty well. But how do we stack up against other life forms on our planet?
While there are over 7 billion humans, bats actually outnumber us with about 10 billion of them flying around. That’s a lot of bats! In the bird world, the African red-billed quelea takes the crown, with up to 10 billion individuals. That’s more than the number of humans!
In the oceans, it’s tricky to count fish, but just one school of Atlantic herring can have over 4 billion fish. When it comes to insects, the numbers get even crazier. For example, if we counted all the aphids on soybean plants in North America, we might find as many as a quadrillion! And ants? They collectively weigh more than all the mammals on Earth.
So, what is “biomass”? It’s the total weight of living things in a certain area. For example, all 7 billion humans together weigh about 287 million tons. But a single species of krill in the ocean can weigh around 500 million tons altogether!
Aspen forests are fascinating because they’re not just individual trees. They’re colonies that grow from a single clone connected underground. The heaviest single organism on Earth is a grove in Utah called Pando, which weighs over 6,600 tons.
Speaking of large organisms, there’s a massive network of forest fungi in Oregon. It covers an area as big as over 1,600 football fields, making it the largest known organism by area. But you can’t see it because it’s underground!
The biggest part of Earth’s biomass is actually bacteria. In just one spoonful of soil, there could be around 10,000 species of bacteria. Imagine that! There are about three septillion bacteria in all the cow stomachs on Earth.
Viruses are another story. Even though many people don’t consider them alive, they’re incredibly numerous and infect every branch of life. We don’t know exactly how many viruses exist, but there are enough in the ocean to weigh as much as 75 million blue whales. If you lined them up, they’d stretch a hundred times the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy!
Humans have come a long way, especially considering we’ve been around in our current form for about 200,000 years. Just 500 years ago, there were fewer than half a billion of us, but now there are over 7 billion. As our population keeps growing, it’s important to think about the vast amounts of life on Earth when we plan for food, energy, and shelter.
Understanding the incredible diversity and abundance of life on Earth helps us appreciate our place in the world and the importance of taking care of our planet.
Using the information from the article, create a chart that compares the biomass of different species mentioned, such as humans, krill, and the Pando grove. Use colored paper or digital tools to make your chart visually appealing. This will help you understand the concept of biomass and how different species contribute to it.
Divide into groups and choose a species from the article, such as bats, ants, or bacteria. Research more about your chosen species and prepare a short presentation arguing why your species is the most successful on Earth. This activity will help you explore the diversity of life and the factors that contribute to a species’ success.
Take a virtual field trip to learn more about the massive network of forest fungi in Oregon. Use online resources to explore how these fungi live and interact with their environment. Write a short report on your findings and share it with the class. This will give you insight into the unseen giants of our planet.
Collect a small soil sample from your backyard or a nearby park. Use a magnifying glass or microscope to observe the microorganisms present. Draw what you see and compare your findings with classmates. This hands-on activity will help you appreciate the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in our environment.
Create a timeline that shows the growth of the human population from 200,000 years ago to the present. Include key milestones and events that have influenced population changes. This will help you understand the rapid growth of the human population and its impact on the planet.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
Have you ever wondered about the success of humans as a species? There are approximately 7 billion people on Earth right now. By most measures, humans are an incredibly successful species. But how do we compare to other life forms on our planet?
While humans number over 7 billion, we are significantly outnumbered by bats, which total around 10 billion and represent about one in five mammal species. In the bird world, the African red-billed quelea is the most abundant, with populations reaching up to 10 billion individuals.
In the oceans, estimating fish populations is challenging, but one school of Atlantic herring can contain over 4 billion fish. When it comes to insects, the numbers become even more astonishing. For example, if we counted all the aphids on soybean plants in North America, we might find as many as a quadrillion. Social insects, like ants, take this to another level; collectively, ants outweigh all mammals on Earth.
So, what is “biomass”? It refers to the total weight of living organisms in a given area. For instance, all 7 billion humans weigh about 287 million tons, while a single species of krill can weigh around 500 million tons collectively.
Aspen forests are not just individual trees; they are colonies that grow from a single clone connected underground. The heaviest single organism on Earth is a grove in Utah called Pando, which weighs over 6,600 tons.
Speaking of large underground organisms, there is a vast network of forest fungi in Oregon that covers an area equivalent to over 1,600 football fields, making it the largest known organism by area. However, this fungal network is invisible to the naked eye.
The most massive component of Earth’s biomass is bacteria. In a single spoonful of soil, there could be around 10,000 species of bacteria. To illustrate, there are approximately three septillion bacteria in all the cow stomachs on Earth.
Interestingly, many consider viruses to be non-living entities, yet they are incredibly numerous and infect every branch of life. While we don’t know the exact number of viruses on Earth, estimates suggest there are enough in the ocean to weigh as much as 75 million blue whales. If lined up, these viruses would stretch a hundred times the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy.
Humans have thrived as a species, especially considering we’ve existed in our current form for about 200,000 years. Just 500 years ago, there were fewer than half a billion of us, but now we exceed 7 billion. As the population continues to grow, it’s essential to consider the vast amounts of life on Earth when addressing our needs for food, energy, and shelter.
—
This version maintains the core information while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
Humans – Humans are members of the species Homo sapiens, known for their ability to think, communicate, and create complex societies. – Humans have a significant impact on the environment through activities like agriculture and urban development.
Species – A species is a group of living organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. – The giant panda is an endangered species that lives in the forests of China.
Biomass – Biomass refers to the total mass of all living organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a certain time. – In a forest, trees contribute the most to the biomass because of their large size and number.
Bacteria – Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments, including soil, water, and the human body. – Some bacteria in the soil help plants grow by breaking down organic matter into nutrients.
Viruses – Viruses are tiny infectious agents that can only reproduce inside the cells of living organisms. – Scientists study viruses to understand how they spread and how to prevent diseases they cause.
Fungi – Fungi are a group of organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms, which decompose organic material. – Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.
Forests – Forests are large areas covered with trees and undergrowth, providing habitat for many species and playing a key role in the Earth’s climate. – The Amazon rainforest is one of the largest and most diverse forests in the world.
Organisms – Organisms are individual living entities that can grow, reproduce, and respond to their environment. – All organisms, from the smallest bacteria to the largest whales, are part of Earth’s ecosystems.
Insects – Insects are a class of small arthropods with a three-part body, six legs, and usually wings, playing vital roles in ecosystems. – Bees are important insects because they pollinate flowers, helping plants reproduce.
Diversity – Diversity refers to the variety of different species and genetic variations within an ecosystem. – Biodiversity in a rainforest is high, with thousands of different species living in a small area.
