What exactly IS the marginal tree?

You might ask. So here is what is what.

'The marginal tree' is the concept of the single tree in any ecosystem, that if cut down, will guarantee the collapse of said ecosystem. Up until felling that marginal tree, the system could support itself. Without it, it is impossible. As such, it is a terribly important tree.

Trouble is, it is really rather hard to find out which tree is the marginal one. As such, the concept serves as a warning; we might be closer to the collapse of the athmosphere as an ecosystem than we like to think.

In relation to WoW, what does this then mean? To me it is a concept of my purpose in the raid or group. You are supposed to matter. If you are expendable or replaceable, then you are not the marginal tree. It is a constant reminder to try my best and to remember that we are only successful if we work together as a group - we work as agents within a system.


Now, hippie mumbojumbo aside, according to my friend and bringer of the holy light, Uniform, this might just be the marginal tree:

I hope he is right! If this indeed is the marginal tree, we will not have to fear the collapse of the planet's ecosystem after all! I mean, what kind of person would cut this beauty down?