We humans tend to be highly biased in our choices of species that we support. We tend to gravitate not toward "keystone species," which are the most important for the survival of an ecosystem, but toward charismatic species, which simply have traits that we find appealing. We might admire the koala for its cuteness, the jaguar for its prowess, or the eagle for its symbolism, but these traits ultimately have little to do with the creatures' role in the overall ecosystem. When we gravitate toward an animal because it has traits we find appealing, we willfully ignore the species that so desperately need our attention and support.
Due to their perceived lack of charisma when compared to wolves and wild horses, some of the most important species receive shockingly little support from the organizations and individuals who should be the most passionate about protecting them. A 2007 report published in the journal Human Ecology found that charismatic endangered animals draw much-needed attention away from more important species. The herbivorous weevil Euhrychiopsis lecontei, for example-- so small and unassuming that it has no common name-- is critically important for the stability of certain aquatic ecosystems. Its extinction could spell an absolute collapse leading to extinction of dozens of species, yet few individuals outside a specific scientific community even know of its existence.
Starfish are, perhaps surprisingly, among the most important groups of keystone species. In many ecosystems, starfish prey upon mussels, clams, oysters, and sea urchins. If an ecological problem destroyed or greatly reduced the starfish population, an explosion of shellfish could cause the destruction of the entire aquatic ecosystem. Yet a starfish, no matter how endangered, is more likely to end up as a home decoration than as an icon for a conservation group.
Other little-known, under-appreciated species also suffer from conservation neglect due to their unimpressive appearances. The cassowary, for example, is an odd-looking, dinosaur-like bird endemic to Australia. Its peculiar, unflattering appearance doesn't adequately represent its importance in the global ecosystem. Many types of plant seeds will not grow unless they have passed through the cassowary's digestive tract-- meaning that the bird's extinction would inevitably cause the extinction of many species of tree, shrub, and herbacious plant. Yet the cassowary has rarely appeared on the cover of conservation magazines or fundraiser brochures.
Mother Nature holds no human biases. For her own survival, she depends equally on the big and the small, the ugly and the beautiful, the ordinary and the outstanding. While we may place strong emphasis on the importance of survival for charismatic creatures with traits we find ourselves personally admiring. In order to keep our planet healthy and safe for the creatures who share our world, we need to stop allowing our biases to influence our decisions in how we care for our planet.