My top keystone Species and what they do.

[estoydorado1]

Keystone Species definition: A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Copied and pasted from the dictionary^^

1. Elephants

-During the dry season Elephants use their tusks to dig for water, this provides a water source for other animals as well.

-When forest elephants graze and walk, they create pathways for other animals to travel. They also open up space for new vegetation to grow.

-Elephant dung is full of seeds and fertilizer which helps the spread of grasses, trees, and other new bush.

2. Tigers

-Tigers are Apex predators, which means that they're the top of the food chain.

-They keep down their herbivore prey's numbers, which helps prevent overgrazing.

-Overgrazing could lead to deforestation. The forests help provide clean water, pollination, temperature regulation, and water.

3. North American Beavers

-Beaver dams help to contain water flow and prevent flooding when it storms. They also provide a source of water in times of drought.

-When beavers bring down trees, they allow sun to reach the water. This leads to healthy algae/aquatic plants and nutrient rich waters.

-This attracts microorganisms that feed on the plants, which attracts larger animals that feed on them.

- The algae and plants in theses ponds absorb dissolved nutrients, breaking down organic wastes, and detoxifying toxins in water (i.e fertilizers, heavy metals, and pesticides).

4. River Otters

-River otters are typically the top predator in the rivers they inhabit.

-They're carnivorous and help control other populations by feeding on them.

-They're often an indication of their ecosystem's health. The more there are of them around, the better the other species (the ones they feed on) must be doing as well.

5. Gray wolves

- Due to wolves typically preying on the old, the sick, and the weak, they keep their prey's bloodlines healthy.

-Wolves help to keep down populations of elk, deer, moose, etc. This helps to prevent overgrazing, that would cause habitat loss to birds, fish, beavers, and other species.

-Wolves keep down populations of other pests and predators.

-It's believed that the removal of wolves in Yellowstone contributed to the rise of coyotes, raccoons, foxes, etc. (these animals are believed to have helped rapidly spread lyme disease). Scientists were proven right when wolves were reintroduced and drove out smaller predators.

-Scavengers benefit from wolves' kills. Carrion feeders such as eagles, bears, and magpies rely on them.

-Hunting leftovers help a number of other species pull through the winter.

[Anonymous]

I love elephants and feel sorry for them because people use them for touristic purpose. They ride them and i heard that it is so bad for elephants.

[estoydorado1]

Yeah, they're extremely intelligent, sensitive, and helpful to their ecosystems. They're also very social and have long memories. You can see a lot of situations where elephants hold grudges and attack the people who have harmed & held them or their loved ones captive. That just goes to show how distressed/aware they are of their treatment.

[dolemite68]

Cool take 👍

[estoydorado1]

Thanks

[Slimey2]

nice myTake. we need to raise awareness for these animals

[estoydorado1]

Thank you. I agree.

[Anonymous]

and yet people hunt these animals..

sad

[estoydorado1]

Yeah, it is.

[stillagoodgirl]

Adorable