All species are worthy of attention, love and protection. But less charismatic creatures–like the Mole Crabs swarming along Florida, USA’s sandy beaches or the crickets flitting around the dry meadows of Switzerland–are often overlooked by the public, and even by scientists. Around the world, A Rocha organizations enthusiastically study under-appreciated species as an opportunity to express our values and implement strategic conservation projects.
When deciding how to approach a project, A Rocha uses the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to understand the conservation status of the species that are present and whether or not they are at risk of extinction. However, many species are still listed as ‘Data Deficient’, meaning the creature hasn’t been studied thoroughly enough to receive an official ranking. These species are an opportunity for A Rocha to provide valuable conservation data and fill in the gaps where our partners and other organizations are not currently focused.
Many of these under-studied creatures could play vital roles in their ecosystems, but we don’t have enough data to understand them, let alone advocate for their protection. Their decline or extinction could have unpredictable and grave consequences for ecosystems that are already struggling.
We often value creatures for their usefulness: for ourselves or for the wider ecosystem. But deeper than that, we care for overlooked species because God created them and loves them. A Rocha International’s Director of Theology, Rev. Dr. Dave Bookless describes this as ‘theo-eco-centrism’:
‘Animals and indeed the whole of wild nature are inherently valuable in the sense of being valued by God regardless of their significance for humanity.’
In Genesis, ‘God delights in creating and providing for all creatures.’ Humans, made in God’s image, are then commanded to assist in the ‘flourishing of the whole good creation.’ (‘Why should wild nature be preserved?’ by Rev. Dave Bookless)
Mole Crabs on Florida’s ‘Space Coast’, USA
The Atlantic Mole Crab Emerita talpoida [cover image] is a tiny and unassuming crustacean studied by A Rocha USA. Also known as ‘sand fleas’ by Florida locals, they are far from being a pest. Mole Crabs are foundational to the sandy ecosystem, acting as an essential food source for shorebirds and fish. Because of this, local fishers use them as bait.
It was these fishers who indicated to A Rocha USA that the local Mole Crab population was in decline. The reason is unknown, and they have not yet been assessed for their global conservation status. A Rocha’sconservation interns set to work designing a project to understand the Mole Crab’s spatial and temporal abundance along Florida’s Space Coast.
Volunteer students from Waynesburg University joined the search for Mole Crabs in the tumultuous ‘swash zone’ where waves wash over the beach. The conservation interns later presented their findings at a local symposium and developed communication materials about both the scientific aspects of their research and the theological experience of connecting with a small yet beloved creature. By owning this project from start to finish, they brought many people together in a journey of appreciation for an under-studied species.
Grasshoppers and crickets in the Swiss dry meadows
Through regular habitat maintenance and species inventories, A Rocha Switzerland sparks excitement for the lesser-known insects of the dry meadows. Many people appreciate butterflies, but it’s much rarer to find outings dedicated to observing crickets and grasshoppers—these are generally reserved for a select few enthusiasts.
Yet these less charismatic species are fascinating in many ways when you take a closer look: they produce a repertoire of sounds just as extraordinary as birds’, allowing you to identify certain species by ear even though they look exactly alike. They undergo numerous molts before reaching adulthood, facing dangers at every stage.
To reproduce, crickets and grasshoppers deliberately search for the perfect habitat, which has either vegetation or soil loose enough to lay eggs, but neither too dry nor too wet; plenty of hiding places; and food—whether plant-based or even carnivorous—to suit their needs. Some species found in dry grasslands have such specific ecological needs that they serve as indicators of whether the habitat is in good condition and able to support other creatures.
Grasshoppers and crickets enable reliable ecological monitoring, especially since their ecology is well understood in Switzerland and they play a key role in the food chain. For example, the endangered Italian Grasshopper Calliptamus italicus requires areas devoid of vegetation; this species can therefore be supported with minimal effort through periodic brush clearing and the creation of clearings. Though it may seem a bit plain at first glance, when it jumps, its red wings unfold magnificently! It is a species just as important and interesting as a butterfly when you take a closer look.
The moths of Portugal
Moths, the nocturnal cousins of butterflies, play a vital role in keeping ecosystems in balance. Around 2,800 species have already been identified in Portugal, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years as moth trapping and identification stations continue to spread across the country.
Beyond being a key food source for countless animals, moths are excellent pollinators of a wide variety of plants. Many species fly and feed during the day, and some of those plants are part of our everyday diet, making moths quiet but essential contributors to our food security.
Scientists also study moths to assess the impact of climate change and other environmental pressures on habitat health, as they are outstanding bioindicators of ecosystem quality.
Unfortunately, many people still associate moths with bad omens, and in some parts of Portugal they are even called ‘witches’. Others avoid them out of fear that they’ll damage clothing, when in fact fewer than 1% of species do, and even fewer today given that most of our clothes are synthetic.
A Rocha Portugal has been studying moths without interruption since the 1990s — trapping, identifying and recording them to better understand and protect them. Moths are also a key part of A Rocha Portugal’s ‘Discovering Pollinators’ project, which runs every year with schools across the Barlavento Algarvio region.
Historical project: Beach Boys in Kenya
The intertidal rock pools at Kenya’s Watamu Marine National Park often go overlooked in favour of the stunning coral reefs, which attract the attention of scientists, locals and tourists. In 2013, Bob Sluka was working on marine projects in Kenya. Accompanied by his family of young children, the Slukas spent more time exploring rock pools than diving in the reefs, and they encountered a surprising array of marine species there.
Few, if any, locals were studying biodiversity in Watamu’s intertidal rock pools, so A Rocha Kenya filled in the gap with a new species monitoring project. There, they discovered the incredibly rare Crisp Pillow Coral Anomastraea irregularis. The team had been searching for this coral in the ocean’s reefs, but finally found them in this unlikely place. This coral is classified as Vulnerable, but it is often overlooked compared to other vulnerable species in Watamu.
These encounters in the rock pools led to a project that engaged a relatively overlooked group of people: the local ‘Beach Boys’ who would informally approach tourists just outside the park to give them tours of the rock pools. Often, however, the information they shared was inaccurate, or they would inadvertently harm wildlife by picking up and moving interesting creatures to different pools. A Rocha Kenya stepped in to offer the Beach Boys scientific training, engage them in conservation work and provide them with a certificate to help improve their livelihood.
By surveying overlooked species and investing in the local community, A Rocha Kenya holistically protected a vital habitat. A Rocha continues this tradition worldwide, offering love and rigorous scientific attention to neglected species as an act of worship to the God who made them and declared the whole of creation ‘very good.’
