TIL that elephants are a keystone species. They carve pathways through impenetrable under brush shaping entire ecosystems as they create pools in dried river beds and spread seeds as they travel.

Authored by nationalgeographic.org and submitted by voided101
image for TIL that elephants are a keystone species. They carve pathways through impenetrable under brush shaping entire ecosystems as they create pools in dried river beds and spread seeds as they travel.

abiotic Adjective characterized by the absence of life or living organisms

acacia Noun tree or shrub that is often thorny.

air pollution Noun harmful chemicals in the atmosphere. Encyclopedic Entry: air pollution

algae Plural Noun (singular: alga) diverse group of aquatic organisms, the largest of which are seaweeds.

allogenic engineer Noun organism that changes biotic and/or abiotic resources from one physical state to another.

anthropogenic source Noun caused by people.

apex predator Noun species at the top of the food chain, with no predators of its own. Also called an alpha predator or top predator.

Arctic Noun region at Earth's extreme north, encompassed by the Arctic Circle. Encyclopedic Entry: Arctic

autogenic engineer Noun organism that modifies its environment by modifying its own biology.

bank Noun a slope of land adjoining a body of water, or a large elevated area of the sea floor.

bay Noun body of water partially surrounded by land, usually with a wide mouth to a larger body of water. Encyclopedic Entry: bay

benthic Adjective having to do with the bottom of a deep body of water.

biodiversity Noun all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area. Encyclopedic Entry: biodiversity

bioerosion Noun the process in which a living organism wears away at rock or another hard substance.

biology Noun study of living things.

biome Noun area of the planet which can be classified according to the plant and animal life in it. Encyclopedic Entry: biome

biotic Adjective having to do with living or once-living organisms.

bivalve Noun type of animal (mollusk) with two shells hinged together, such as a clam or mussel.

boreal forest Noun land covered by evergreen trees in cool, northern latitudes. Also called taiga.

bottom-up trophic cascade Noun ecological phenomenon in which a producer or primary consumer is removed from the environment.

burrow Noun small hole or tunnel used for shelter.

captive breeding Noun reproduction of rare species controlled by humans in a closed environment, such as a zoo.

cease Verb to stop or end.

charismatic megafauna Noun large animals with popular appeal due to their appearance or cultural significance.

climate change Noun gradual changes in all the interconnected weather elements on our planet. Encyclopedic Entry: Earth's Changing Climate

collapse Verb to fall apart completely.

colony Noun group of one species of organism living close together.

conflate Verb to merge or fuse into one entity.

conservation Noun management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect. Encyclopedic Entry: conservation

coral reef Noun rocky ocean features made up of millions of coral skeletons.

crustacean Noun type of animal (an arthropod) with a hard shell and segmented body that usually lives in the water.

culture Noun learned behavior of people, including their languages, belief systems, social structures, institutions, and material goods.

dam Noun structure built across a river or other waterway to control the flow of water.

designate Verb to name or single out.

diet Noun foods eaten by a specific group of people or other organisms. Encyclopedic Entry: diet

dispersal Noun spread of something to a new area.

distribution Noun the way something is spread out over an area. Encyclopedic Entry: distribution

economic Adjective having to do with money.

ecosystem Noun community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area. Encyclopedic Entry: ecosystem

ecosystem engineer Noun organism that creates, modifies, maintains or destroys a habitat.

endangered species Noun organism threatened with extinction. Encyclopedic Entry: endangered species

environment Noun conditions that surround and influence an organism or community.

eradicate Verb to destroy or remove.

estuary Noun mouth of a river where the river's current meets the sea's tide. Encyclopedic Entry: estuary

exoskeleton Noun the hard external shell or covering of some animals.

feeding behavior Noun methods by which an organism obtains food and eats.

filter feeder Noun aquatic animal that strains nutrients from water.

fishery Noun industry or occupation of harvesting fish, either in the wild or through aquaculture.

flagship species Noun organism that serves as a symbol for an environmental habitat, movement, campaign, or issue.

food web Noun all related food chains in an ecosystem. Also called a food cycle. Encyclopedic Entry: food web

foraminifera Plural Noun (singular: foraminifer.) Type of microscopic organism (protist) that forms a shell and lives in marine or salty conditions.

forest Noun ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush.

foundation species Noun species that creates or maintains an ecosystem.

functional redundancy Noun characteristic of species whose contributions to an ecosystem are matched by other species.

gene flow Noun movement and exchange of genes between interbreeding populations.

geothermal energy Noun heat energy generated within the Earth. Encyclopedic Entry: geothermal energy

government Noun system or order of a nation, state, or other political unit.

grassland Noun ecosystem with large, flat areas of grasses.

grazing animal Noun animal that feeds on grasses, trees, and shrubs.

habitat Noun environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time. Encyclopedic Entry: habitat

herbivore Noun organism that eats mainly plants and other producers. Encyclopedic Entry: herbivore

human geography Noun the study of the way human communities and systems interact with their environment.

indicator species Noun organism that is very sensitive to changes in its environment. Also called a sentinel species.

indigenous Adjective characteristic to or of a specific place. Encyclopedic Entry: indigenous

inhibit Verb to slow or prevent.

introduced species Noun a species that does not naturally occur in an area. Also called alien, exotic, or non-native species.

invasive species Noun type of plant or animal that is not indigenous to a particular area and causes economic or environmental harm. Encyclopedic Entry: invasive species

juvenile Noun animal that is no longer a baby but has not reached sexual maturity.

keystone mutualists Noun organisms that participate in mutually beneficial interactions, the loss of which would have a profound impact on the ecosystem.

keystone species Noun organism that has a major influence on the way its ecosystem works. Encyclopedic Entry: keystone species

livestock noun, plural noun animals raised for sale and profit.

mammal Noun animal with hair that gives birth to live offspring. Female mammals produce milk to feed their offspring.

marine Adjective having to do with the ocean.

mascot Noun animal, person, or thing representing a group of people or organization.

meadow Noun wide area of grassland.

migratory Adjective organisms that travel from one place to another at predictable times of the year.

modify Verb to change or alter.

mollusk Noun large phylum of invertebrate animal, all possessing a mantle with a significant cavity used for breathing and excretion, a radula (except for bivalves), and the structure of the nervous system.

native species Noun species that occur naturally in an area or habitat. Also called indigenous species.

nectar Noun sweet plant material that attracts pollinators.

nest Noun protected area built by birds to hatch their eggs and raise their young.

niche Noun role and space of a species within an ecosystem.

nutrient Noun substance an organism needs for energy, growth, and life. Encyclopedic Entry: nutrient

overgrazing Noun process of too many animals feeding on one area of pasture or grassland.

Patagonia Noun large plateau in southern South America, stretching from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.

physical geography Noun study of the natural features and processes of the Earth.

plain Noun flat, smooth area at a low elevation. Encyclopedic Entry: plain

plankton Plural Noun (singular: plankton) microscopic aquatic organisms.

plant Noun organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis and whose cells have walls.

pollinate Verb to transfer pollen from one part of a flower (the anther) to another (the stigma).

pollinator Noun animal, object, or force such as wind that transfers pollen from one plant to another, allowing seeds to develop.

pollutant Noun chemical or other substance that harms a natural resource.

polyp Noun a type of animal with a fixed base, a tubelike body, and tentacles for catching prey.

population Noun total number of people or organisms in a particular area.

predator Noun animal that hunts other animals for food.

prey Noun animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals.

primary consumer Noun organism that eats plants or other autotrophs.

producer Noun organism on the food chain that can produce its own energy and nutrients. Also called an autotroph.

professor Noun highest-ranking teacher at a college or university.

pummel Verb to strike violently and repeatedly.

reef Noun a ridge of rocks, coral, or sand rising from the ocean floor all the way to or near the ocean's surface. Encyclopedic Entry: reef

resource Noun available supply of materials, goods, or services. Resources can be natural or human.

roam Verb to wander or travel over a wide area without a specific destination.

savanna Noun type of tropical grassland with scattered trees.

scavenger Noun organism that eats dead or rotting biomass, such as animal flesh or plant material. Encyclopedic Entry: scavenger

sediment Noun solid material transported and deposited by water, ice, and wind. Encyclopedic Entry: sediment

shelter Noun structure that protects people or other organisms from weather and other dangers.

shrub Noun type of plant, smaller than a tree but having woody branches.

social Adjective having to do with a community or other group of organized people.

soil Noun top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow.

species range Noun native, geographic area in which an organism can be found. Range also refers to the geographic distribution of a particular species. Encyclopedic Entry: species range

subarctic Noun region just south of the Arctic Circle.

symbol Noun something used to represent something else.

territory Noun land an animal, human, or government protects from intruders.

thrive Verb to develop and be successful.

tidal plain Noun large, flat area where mud and sediment are deposited by ocean tides. Also called tidal flat or mudflat.

timber Noun wood in an unfinished form, either trees or logs.

top-down trophic cascade Noun ecological phenomenon in which a top predator is removed from the environment.

tourist Noun person who travels for pleasure.

trophic cascade Noun ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of predators from an environment.

umbrella species Noun large, usually migratory species on which other species in an ecosystem depend.

uproot Verb to tear or remove a tree or other plant by the roots.

water pollution Noun introduction of harmful materials into a body of water.

wetland Noun area of land covered by shallow water or saturated by water. Encyclopedic Entry: wetland

woodland Noun land covered with trees, usually less dense than a forest. Encyclopedic Entry: woodland

Imakedo on April 7th, 2019 at 02:31 UTC »

There was a whole thing about desertification and elephants I believe.

They thought elephants were partially the cause with their huge diet requirements and ripping up trees and grasses. They culled thousands of elephants to help the plants grow back but with fewer elephants it only got worse.

They found that grazing animals like elephants actually helped spread seeds as the traveled.

Sr-Gala on April 7th, 2019 at 01:32 UTC »

Other examples of keystone species include wolves in Yellowstone & jaguars in tropical forests.

Noerdy on April 7th, 2019 at 01:22 UTC »

A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.

Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche. The ecosystem would be forced to radically change, allowing new and possibly invasive species to populate the habitat.

Elephants are the best.