Importance of Animals and Plants to Humans

Importance of Animals to Humans

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Animals are essential to human survival. Without animals, hamans will starve from the lack of proteinous nutrients. In this regard, animals provide humans with protein-rich food (meat, milk and eggs), alongside materials like wool and leather. They can also.serve as labor and man's companion.

The various importance of animals to humans are explained below:

 

1. Balancing of Ecosystem

Animals are crucial for proper balancing of the ecosystems. For instance, they bring about pollination, leading to the production of fruits. They also bring about the cycling of soil nutrients, seed dispersal, source of food along the feeding pathway (food chain and food web).

The concept of food chain and food web is an important concept of nature that maintains a balanced and functioning ecosystem.

Please read on the concept of an ecosystem here.

 

2. Provision of Food

Animals provide human with dairy product like milk, alongside its processed products such as cheese, ice cream and butter.

Animals provide us with meat, fish and egg which serves as important sources of protein. In fact, most of the proteins eaten by humans come from livestock like pig, chicken, cattle, sheep, goat, rabbit, alongside other bush animals.

Please read on agricultural ecology and farm ecosystem here.

 

3.Hides and Skin

Hides (from large animals like cattle, camel, buffalo and horses) and skin (from smaller animals like sheep, goat, deer and calves) are used for the production of leather products such as shoes, belts, handbags, wallets, gloves, furniture upholstery, automotive interiors, wrist straps, drums and even shelter.

Please read more on resources from animals here.

 

4. Transportation

Livestock such as horses, donkeys, and camels can assist in transporting humans, agricultural materials, tools and finished products from one point to another. They are also utilized in ploughing agricultural farmland in many parts of the world.

Please read on means and mode of transportation here.

 

5. Scientific Research

Animals are used extensively in medical and scientific research through laboratory studies in order to properly understand the causes, effects and treatment of diseases. This process has led to the production of vaccines and drugs for preventing and treating diseases.

Please read on immunization here.

 

6. Protection

Certain animals can be trained to provide security, safety and protection for humans. Examples include certain breeds of dogs and domestic cat. In this regard, they can also be trained to guide the blind, and assist killing small mammals like rats on farmland.

Please read on living things (animals) here.

 

7. Manufacture of Processed Products

Hoof and horns can be used for manufacturing buttons, comb, ornaments etc.

Animal fur derived from sheep can also be used to provide wool and shelter. Such furs can become processed to manufacturer pillows, beds, sofas and so on.

Bones and horns can be used to manufacture nitrogenous fertilizer, glue, and gelatin. They can also be utilized in making bone meals which are very rich in calcium.

Please read on the classification of plants and differences between plants and animals here.

 

8. Pets and Companionship 

Certain animals can be trained as pets to provide companionship for human. Such companionship can reduce loneliness, stress, improves one's mood and overall mental well-being. Animals that can serve as pets and companionship include dogs, domestic cats, parrots, goat, sheep, rabbits, cattle, horse etc.

You can read on the branches of agriculture here.

 

Importance of Plants to Humans

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1. Oxygen Production

Earth's oxygen comes from the byproduct of photosynthesis in plants. Oxygen is crucial for respiration which happens to be a basic characteristics of life. Oxygen from plants also oxidizes carbon(II)oxide, a poisonous gas into carbon(IV)oxide.

Please read the the basic characteristics of living things here.

 

2. Removal of Carbon(IV)oxide

Plants regulate the atmosphere by constantly removing carbon(IV)oxide through photosynthesis. This is shown via the equation below:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O -> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Photosynthesis is defined as the process whereby green plants manufacture food through the use of carbon(IV)oxide and water in the presence of sunlight, mineral salt and chloroplasts, giving out oxygen as byproduct

Plants are the only organism's that eliminates CO₂ from the atmosphere, consequently reducing green house effect.

Please read on family health here.

 

3. Source of Food

Plants are producer, and thus, will consequencetly commence food chain and food web in ecosystems. In fact, without plants, all humans and animals will starve to death. Food derived from plants include tubers, cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and so on.

Please read the differences between plants and crops; and classification of crops according to their uses here.

 

4. Provision of Raw Materials

Raw materials from plants include wood, cotton, rubber, beverages and so on. These raw materials are crucial for man's survival. For example, wood are extensively used in buildings, road constructions, home interiors, various infrastructures, production of paper, fuel for cooking and so on.

Cotton is the most used fiber in fashion industry, making it crucial in cloth production. It is also processed into cotton oil and highly proteineous livestock feed. Apart from these, cotton is applied in the production of furniture, paper and various medical devices.

Please read on resources from living things here.

Rubber is important in the manufacture of tyres, plastics, gloves, oxygen masks, footwears, roofing materials, contraceptives and so on.

 

5. Medicine

Plants are crucial towards improving the health of humans and animals, alongside their survival, since they can serve as drugs that cures a variety of diseases when used.

All plant materials, that is: leaves, stems, roots, flowers, barks, branches, fruits and seed may be consumed directly, cooked or processed into pharmaceutical drugs.

Please read on parts of the plant (leaf) here.

 

6. Aesthetic and Beautification 

Plants in form of trees, shrubs, and flowers beautify human environment. Plants enhance beautification by adding color, texture, and structural interest to our environment and homes, which can consequently reduce stress. For this reason, a natural plant environment such as gardens are utilized as places of relaxation and celebrations.

Please read on social and emotional changes during adolescence, myths and facts.

 

7. Tourist Attraction 

Humans enjoy touring activities, and may spend their money visiting botanical gardens and even forests in different parts of the world. Such gardens and forests are typically characterized by a variety of plants and animals.

Tourism generally enhances destination appeal through landscaped parks, where human appreciate the realistic beauty of nature. As a consequence, tourism drives local economies, supports conservation of endangered species, and provides beautification, aesthetic, and relaxation to humans.

Please read on forest management and importance of forest here.

 

8. Prevention of Soil Erosion

The roots of plants hold the soil particles together, reducing the washing away of soil. Also, the stem and bark of large plants act as windbreak, consequently reducing the speed of wind and amount of top soil blown away.

Leaves of plants break the force of rain drops and thereby reduce soil erosion. Also, plants absorb water through their roots, decreasing soil erosion in the process.

Please read on soil erosion here.

 

Other functions of plants to humans include:

• Transpiration helps water cycle and promote rainfall that helps humans and animals to grow.

• The colour pigment extracted from leaves, flowers and barks plant (dyes) are useful in the textile for coloring clothes.

Please read basic science week 3 topic (cell) for jss1 1st term here.

Please read basic science scheme of work for JSS1 1st term here.