If a species has a large effect on a system, will that species also experience less overall competition? Has that species driven another species to local extinction? If that species vanishes, will others take its place, allowing for the community's continued existence?
Life has been around for a while, and in many cases species have evolved in ways that not only benefit themselves, but also others.
As a species, we are concerned about our own survival. However, we are also - somewhat paradoxically - concerned with maintaining species richness and intact food webs. No other species on the planet goes out of their way as selflessly as we do, but no other species casts as long a shadow as we do.
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