Small wonders – the often-unseen dynamics that make nature tick

Showing us once again that nature’s design is perfect, every species has an important purpose that is integral to the whole and vital to each other’s ability to survive and thrive.

These creatures and processes aren’t all immediately obvious to the naked eye. And it’s often only in learning how they all interact that we can truly appreciate how much they do.

When an animal dies, it also provides sustenance for others, from the predators who benefit first, to scavengers like vultures, and eventually the insects and microorganisms who make the most of the nutrients in the soil. Nothing is wasted. Decomposers and scavengers not only feed on the decaying organisms, but in doing so, also help prevent the spread of diseases – a crucial part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Everything, no matter how small, has its role.

When they eventually fall, trees offer shelter too: homes for small animals, nesting sites for birds, and even a safe and healthy habitat for organisms like fungi to flourish. This initial loss of life makes way for habitat creation, and in turn, for the ecosystem’s complexity to thrive.

Fungi too are essential to this part of the process, acting as decomposers that recycle nutrients and carbon from dead organic matter, and as mutualists that help plants absorb water and minerals. They are also instrumental in nutrient cycling, are a vital food source for many organisms, and contribute to soil health and carbon sequestration.

Equally as impressive proportionate to their size, dung beetles are some of Africa’s most remarkable workers. Masters of navigation and environmental efficiency, and key players in the ecosystem, they return nutrients to the soil, improve its structure, and even help reduce greenhouse gases like methane. They also help control parasites by quickly removing waste from the environment. Nature's hard-working clean-up crew.

An indicator of a landscape's health, and a welcome sight in any environment, bees and butterflies are the small but critical architects of the wilderness, pollinating a large proportion of flowering plants. Through their constant work, they safeguard biodiversity, helping wild plants reproduce and maintain genetic richness. Should their numbers decline, fewer plants would mean fewer habitats and nourishment for animals further up the chain.

Bees and butterflies are not merely pollinators though – they also provide sustenance for an array of creatures, from birds and lizards to mammals like the honey badger. These humble creatures, in countless quiet moments, sustain a web of life and and maintain the resilience of an ecosystems across the world.

We are constantly inspired by nature's intricacy and design – on a macro as well as a micro level, and strive to celebrate it in all we do. Learn about the fascinating role death plays in nature, and the beauty of small things in Volume 3 of our magazine.