User reviews

"Serengeti Rules" is an interesting exploration of some local, and varied, ecosystems complemented beautifully by some enthralling cinematography. The film covers 5-6 biologists (ecologists?) who seem to specialize in certain local ecosystems, e.g., creeks, marine intertidal habitats, African savannah, and explores how they identified what they called a "keystone species" for each local ecosystem. A "keystone species" is one whose absence, or diminished numbers, in a local habitat dismantles the entire structure and viability of that ecosystem due to its varied impact on the interrelationships of the multiple life forms in that local environment. The filmmakers (actually the scientists in the film) tell us that it was originally believed that the animals at the very apex of the food chain were the key species ensuring the viability of an ecosystem through their effects on the symbiotic relationships. But these researchers found that that was not necessarily so. Indeed, the wildebeests on the Serengeti were eventually discovered to be the "keystone species" on that savannah; their diminished numbers adversely affected the numbers and viability of all other species including plant life. This research could be painstaking; the researcher who identified the otter as the keystone species in intertidal marine ecosystems (Washington state) proceeded by eliminating each of 11 species one at a time from the ecosystem and observing the effects on whether the local ecosystem continued to flourish or declined in viability.

Another interesting feature to this documentary was that the research was done many decades ago, but the filmmakers were able to bring on film each of these scientists and we hear them reminisce about how their discoveries initially confounded them but then led to a new perspective on the interaction among species in local environments. A well-worth seeing nature documentary.

The discovery of the map of Nature by these scientists is 100% correct. It's an amazing thing how Nature works. Beautiful. Except there's something they, nor anyone else in modern academia, will never admit; who the true top predator is that keeps the world in sync. Humans AREN'T the "disease" depicted in this film. The equation is correct, but humans are the predator! We keep the world balanced. The problem with the world and the reason the world is off balance isn't because humanity. It's because humanity has been lumped together and the wrong race is at the top. Diversity in humanity isn't what will save the earth, it is what is killing it. One race ruled this earth for tens of thousands of years and Nature thrived. Now that these "rulers", or bankers more specifically, have destroyed that balance and imposed Communism, balance is off and chaos has consumed everything, killing everything. One would call the white race the sea urchin, the mussel, the leaf cutter ant consuming everything in their path. These "rulers" that control everything and brainwash society, THEY are the urchin, the mussel, the leaf cutter! Once we restore balance back to the way it was pre-WW2, then the world will heal and ALL of nature will thrive once again. The Earth was once in harmony for millions of years, but only the last couple hundred years has it been dying and it's because the once top predator isn't ruling anymore. Until they are, these bankers will continue sending the once top predator into extinction. When that race is dead and gone, you know what you'll have? A barren wasteland of bankers that have consumed everything and nothing will be left. They consume and destroy everything they touch. Without the top predator in place to keep them in check, nothing will survive.

If you like a great story and/or science you'll love The Serengeti Rules.

Typical humans, always looking for "solutions" outside themselves. Trying to find an excuse not have to change. Well it doesn't work that way. We are the only species messing up this planet. Without us everything else works just fine. If human ways don't change the same thing will be happening over and over again. Or it will all stop happening all together, Because this planet might just one day say, enough. ALL your conclusions are wrong. ALL that nature creates is EQUALLY important. Anyone who claims something different is a fool. Just stop arrogantly pretending to be the most intelligent species on this planet, because the evidence of the contrary has been vast. Until humans humbly accept that, and that their ways need to change, there is no hope. Start with the man in the mirror, only then can you (maybe) heal the world.