Would we miss snails if they suddenly disappeared? - BBC World Service

Snails are a major enemy of gardeners around the world, invading vegetable patches and gobbling prize plants. CrowdScience listener Alexandre reckons he’s removed thousands of them from his garden, which got him wondering: apart from eating his garden to the core, what’s their wider role in nature? Would anyone or anything miss them if they suddenly disappeared?
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And for that matter, what about other creatures? We all know how complex biodiversity is, but it seems that some animals are more important than others in maintaining the balance of life on earth. Is there anything that could go extinct without having knock-on effects?
CrowdScience heads to the Hawaiian mountains, a snail diversity hotspot, to discover the deep value of snails to native ecosystems there. Researchers and conservationists are working together to protect these highly endangered snails, and their natural habitats, from multiple threats.
We hear why all snails - even the ones munching Alexandre’s petunias - have their role to play in the natural world, and get to grips with cascading extinctions: how the loss of a single species can trigger unpredictable effects on a whole ecosystem.
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[@alexinou]

Brilliant, thank you for publishing! Just to clarify, the curiosity behind the question was not "should we care" if species disappear if they don't contribute to the ecosystem balance, no. The question was really "these living creatures are here, would it make a difference if they weren't, and if yes, what would the consequences be?" It is NOT about whether life matters, because life does matter 😃

[@Philip-bk2dm]

There used to be tons of snails here (SF Bay Area Peninsula, California) but in the last decade they have all disappeared. I have been trying to find out why, but no one seems to have a clue.

[@weeitsanne]

I am in the Bay Area as well, and I haven’t seen a snail in years. They used to be so abundant, especially when it rained. You’d have to watch your step otherwise you were sure to accidentally step on one. 😓

[@documentaryshow]

The problem is loss of animals. Snails, mosquitoes. Then man.

[@ximuoidethuong]

Thanks a lot

[@yecang5741]

My daughter like to pick up snail shells in the bush. Many small shells with no flesh. I wonder where the flesh is. Were they eaten by others? Or they lost their shells and go away.😮

[@viniciusleonelPoliglota]

Interesting...

[@chengcheng6353]

Ducks and chickens love 🐌

[@amccaddon1]

Do we need 'em?

[@BBCWorldService]

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[@corbinrora7060]

embpck #von.ong

[@shakeithigh]

"Do we need 'em?" Karl Pilkington