Question

Elephants shape their environment in many ways. They can change a forest to a grassy field or dig a hole that might become a pond. They clear large amounts of vegetation, which removes habitats for some organisms but makes the area inviting for other organisms. Which best describes possible interactions of elephants with the surrounding ecosystem?

Answer 1

A good way of how we could describe the elephants' interaction with its environment and the surrounding ecosystem is that they're actively manipulating it. They are making the ecosystem more available and more accessible to themselves in the sense that it increases their own likelihood of obtaining food and thriving in a certain ecosystem. Changing a forest to a grassy tree for example leads to grass being grown which the elephants can then eat. 

Answer 2

Answer;

both positive and negative

Explanation;

-The elephant are keystone species, playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. They may have both negative and positive interactions to the environment. For example, during the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water, which has a positive impact to the surrounding.

-They clear large amounts of vegetation, which removes habitats for some organisms but makes the area inviting for other organisms. This has both positive and negative impact to the ecosystem.