Biomes and Ecosystems: What They Are and How They Work

Overview of the Biome and Ecosystem 

The biome selected for evaluation herein is the complicated and sensitive biome referred to as the Namib Desert, situated in Namibia, a country in South Africa. The particular area has been selected due to its uniqueness and also the challenges it has been facing in recent years. The Namib Desert is one of the driest places on earth and as an average rainfall of about 5mm of rain annually. It also has extreme weather including high temperatures and hot sunshine for most of the year. Despite the extreme weather, the Namib deserts still have a varied collection of flora and fauna making it one of the most interesting ecosystems in the world (Ham & Holden, 2017). Several species of plants and animals have developed interesting adaptation mechanisms so as to survive in the desert.

Namib Desert’s Keystone Species 

Among the primary Keystone species found in the Namib Desert is the desert lion, an animal species that is specifically adapted for the harsh life of the habitat. From a casual assessment, the desert lion may seem like any other African lion, but it is essentially different. The species has developed an ability and adaptation to stay for weeks without any water while using the blood of its kills as an alternative (Actman, 2016). The desert lion is the apex predator in the Namib deserts and is crucial to the survival of the ecosystem. With flora being limited and unable to recover rapidly due to harsh weather, it is critical to limit the herbicide population in the desert. It is this limiting role that the desert lion plays. If the desert lion is eliminated, there will be an overpopulation of herbivores that will, in turn, deplete the plants leading to a collapse of the entire ecosystem.

Invasive Species 

Unfortunately, the Namib Desert has been invaded by the most invasive, abusive and destructive species known to modern history, Homo sapiens! Human encroachment has become a major challenge to the Namib Desert and the success of its ecosystem (Actman, 2016). For a start, local settlers and nomadic communities have been moving and settling in some segment of the biome. The need for resources such as food and fuel for these settlers have had a negative effect on flora and fauna in the desert. Most importantly, there has been a human-wildlife conflict between the setters and the animals in the desert. A good example was the poisoning of five iconic male desert lions by members of the local communities ostensibly because the lions had killed domesticated donkeys (Actman, 2016).

Another set of humans that have invaded the Namib Desert are hunters and poachers who hunt game animals for food and trophies. A common example is poachers who have been killing elephants for their ivory (Ham & Holden, 2017). An upsurge in poaching caused by a spike in demand for ivory in the Far East has precipitated a critical crisis for the animals in the Namib Desert. A lot of effort has been put in place to limit the impact of human activities in the Namib Desert, both by the government and by the international community. Among the most effective programs has been the sensitization of local communities so as to minimize human-wildlife conflict (Ham & Holden, 2017).

Endangered Species in the Biome 

Among the endangered species in the Namib Desert is the desert-adapted Rhino. Most of the Rhino species in Africa are either protected, or endangered species and the limited habitat within which the desert rhino can live makes is especially vulnerable. The desert rhino is mainly endangered because of trophy hunters and poachers who target the species for its horns which fetch a very high price in the black market (Suter & Suter, 2015). Unless steps are taken to limit the hunting of the desert-adapted rhino, it might be hunted into extinction. Among the measures being undertaken to protect the desert-adapted rhino is sensitization of the local communities about the importance of the animal. Some protected areas of the Namib Desert are also being fenced to protect the said species. Among the extreme measures being used include dehorning the desert-adopted rhinos so as to discourage trophy hunters from targeting them (Suter & Suter, 2015).

References

Actman, J. (2016, December 21). Rare Desert Lions of 'Five Musketeers' Fame Poisoned. Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/wildlife-namibia-desert-lions-poisoned/ 

Ham, A., & Holden, T. (2017).  Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia . Melbourne, Australia: Lonely Planet.

Suter, S., & Suter, J. (2015, October 12). Tracking desert-adapted rhino in Namibia with Save the Rhino Trust. Retrieved from https://africageographic.com/blog/tracking-desert-adapted-rhino-namibia-save-rhino-trust/