According to modern estimates of biologists, about 5.5 thousand species of mammals are represented in nature, and this imaginary pyramid is completed by man himself (together with higher primates and dolphins). The total, including extinct, the number of their species is more than 20 thousand (380 species live in the territory of modern Russia). The main distinguishing feature, in addition to the four-legged and the presence of the spine, skin and hair, is the ability to feed their babies with milk (hence the general name). Currently, the importance and protection of mammals in the wild (and in the household) is one of the paramount importance for many people, because some wild species are on the verge of extinction, and some are listed in the Red Book.
Class mammals
Great value mammals in nature and human life. Wild species are widespread on land, air and in water almost everywhere, performing certain functions assigned to them by nature. And domesticated animals from ancient times solve the problem of food and clothing for all of humanity. Their appearance is quite diverse, but in general they correspond to the type of structure of the four-legged inhabitants of planet Earth. Characteristically, this class is recognized by scientists as the most highly organized. And its most developed representatives, for example, dolphins, are recognized in modern science of research as carriers of the beginnings of intelligence comparable to human. The same story is with the higher primates, who, with the help of appropriate exercises, are taught to distinguish colors, melodies and even letters, to execute the simplest human commands.
The value of mammals in nature
In the wild, this class performs many functions and tasks depending on the predation or carnivore of the representatives. They are mobile and consume a large amount of food, animal and vegetable, thereby already affecting the environment. The importance of mammals in nature lies in the fact that they are important links in food chains. Mammal predators inhibit and stabilize the reproduction and distribution of carnivores. For example, wolves, generally recognized orderlies in the forest, remove weak or painful individuals, which leads to a better population of certain animals. Take the wolves out of the forest, rabbits begin to breed, which leads to the destruction of certain tree species, as well as cultural crops. And if the foxes disappear, then the mice can breed so that the grain will not have time to ripen in the fields. In nature, everything is interconnected, and the absence of a predator means a violation of a certain balance, originally conceived.
Environment-forming role
In this regard, the importance of mammals in nature and human life is also great. Many carnivorous mammals living in the wild take a direct part in the reproduction and development of plants, transferring seeds and fruits. And some play an invaluable role in habitat education. For example, digging animals - moles or others - loosen the soil, saturating it with air, helping to increase the fertility and reproduction of plants and other, less developed, animals: insects, arachnids. In turn, this helps to fill the food chain for birds of various species. And the activity of beaver-builders can change the water regimes and the landscape of the habitat itself.
Rodents
The importance of mammals in nature and human life is not always so great, and some of the members of the class do great harm to humanity. So, for example, rodents are a real misfortune of fields sown with grains, long since cultivated by people. The mouse-like ones damage many crops of agricultural plants, eat stems and foliage, grains and fruits. And yet, many rodents are carriers of diseases that are deadly for both humans and pets. Scientists believe that the European plague epidemics in the Middle Ages, for example, were provoked by a huge population of rats and mice that inhabited cities and villages. In the modern world, rats and mice also cause significant harm, damaging the communications laid in tunnels and underground: electrical wiring, television and Internet connection.
The importance of mammals in human life
But still, some mammals are of great benefit to humans. We are talking about domestic animals tamed by people in time immemorial. Livestock farming itself, as a branch of economic activity, is born when people begin to lead a more settled way of life. An ancient man catches some wild animals, gradually taming them to domestic living conditions. A kind of artificial selection is made, at first unconsciously. A man selects and leaves for procreation and breeding the offspring of the most healthy and strong animals with valuable qualities, which are fixed in subsequent generations. Then people began to use the already conscious selection and crossbreeding of mammals to breed resistant breeds. Thus, varieties possessing qualities many times exceeding their wild counterparts were bred. For example, the ancestors of cows - females of the European tour - fed offspring about three months after his birth. And modern dairy breeds can prolong this process for up to 10 months (maximum recorded - up to a year). At the same time, they give a lot more milk in a single serving of feeding. Thus, the importance of mammals in human life is increasing with the use of modern technology.
Protein food
It is sad for some animal species, but people need protein to function properly. And the most affordable and satisfying it is found in animal meat. The choice of an ancient man fell on some species of mammals as a result of trial and error. The meat of the predators was too harsh and had a very characteristic unpleasant odor. The meat of the birds was consumed, but the capture of some, depending on their size, was not very productive. The meat of mammals, leading a carnivorous lifestyle, turned out to be one of the most optimal options in terms of animal size and taste. It all started with the hunt. Then some species of animals were caught (for example, ungulates: pigs, tours) and started to be bred artificially. So there were domesticated, once tamed mammals that were eaten.
Milk products
One of the oldest is the importance of mammals for humans as producers of such a nutritious product as milk. In the east - koumiss and camel, in the west - sheep, goat and cow milk. And sour-milk products: kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, cheese are another global significance of mammals for humans. To this day, cheeses made in Europe, eastern airan and suluguni, Slavic fermented baked milk, sour cream and cottage cheese are quoted all over the world. Invented so that milk can be stored for longer, they have become full-fledged and full-fledged consumer products for all of humanity.
Practical clothes and shoes
In times when there were no supermarkets and boutiques, people also had to protect their bodies from the cold. The skins of wild and then domesticated animals became an excellent way. It was they who became a reliable and everyday shelter from winter cold. After that, people realized that in order to achieve the corresponding goals it was not necessary to kill an animal, they began to cut the wool, using it as a clothing material.
In the household
The importance of mammals in the economy as a draft force. When there were no machines and mechanisms that help to move on land, horses, camels, mules and donkeys replaced a person with these devices, moving him over fairly long distances (as well as delivering all kinds of goods). Caravans connected trading countries, and mounted troops won decisive battles. Today, in the age of high technology, the importance of mammals in nature and human life seems to be fading into the background, however, it remains one of the fundamental factors in the development of civilization.