Does the subject heading sound amusing?
Indeed, the pregnant elephant which lost its life subsequent to
the pineapple that was loaded up with crackers.
Another pre-essential explanation of why elephants are being poached is for their ivory. In spite of a prohibition on the global exchange of ivory, African elephants are murdered each year for their ivory tusks.
In this article, I simply want to pen down how elephants impact the condition of the wood, with the goal that these creatures don’t extinct in the forthcoming years.
HOW DO ELEPHANTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECOSYSTEM?
We all know that elephants are the largest land mammals which are found in larger numbers in the African regions. They are also known as keystone species as they play an important role in balancing the natural ecosystems. They generally do not have predators but their younger ones are vulnerable to the carnivores animals attack. So, let’s the major role they play in the environment.
1. WEALTH OUT OF WASTE
Yes, these guys eat large amounts of plant materials every day.
So after munching these seeds, the elephant transports this material to its guts and drops them as dung-containing seeds.
Elephant dung acts as a perfect fertilizer for the seeds to germinate. Thus elephant waste turns out to be a great wealth for new plants to germinate, creating a new habitat for a wide range of animals where some species rely entirely upon elephants for seed dispersal.
2. WATER HOLES DURING DROUGHT SEASON
Many regions around the globe are facing water scarcity. These elephants use their trunks and feet to dig waterholes which allows them to survive during the drought season. These water holes not only serve the elephants but are also used by other species especially when they face harsh habitats.
3. ELEPHANTS GIVE LOTS OF FOOD
Elephants dung acts as a food resource for many species such as Dung Beetles, birds, and insects. It has been found that the dung beetles feed on this dung and they bury them on the ground where their larvae can feed and grow. By doing this, the tightly packed soil gets loosened and this nutritious fertilizer is used by many plants. The larvae that fed the dung act as a source of food for field mice.
4. ENVIRONMENT MODIFICATION
Elephants trample forests and dense grassland making room for smaller species to co-exist. This clearance allows more light to reach the ground which promotes the growth of new plants.
This habit of uprooting trees transform savanna into grasslands.
5. PROVIDE SHELTER
Elephants provide shelter for amphibians and insects. Their tracks filled with water creates an environment for the frog to lay eggs and tadpoles to grow.
CONCLUSION
The keystone species supports the survival of other creatures and contributes to the species’ biodiversity within ecosystems. Their presence benefits many flora and fauna. Their role can never be replaced by any species.
So, humans must take the necessary steps for protecting animals.
Hope you enjoyed reading the article.
Let us know if you can think of any other way of how elephants influence environment.
Nandhini is a former software test engineer having six years of experience in the testing field. She is a food blogger by passion and recently started blogging, where she posts simple vegetarian time-saving recipes.
Nandhini is a tech blogger who shares her views about the techie and how it impacts people.
