Elephants are not the most abundant species in African grasslands, yet they influence community structure. The grasslands contai
n scattered woody plants, but they are kept in check by the uprooting activities of the elephants. Take away the elephants, and the grasslands convert to forests or to shrublands. The newly growing forests support fewer species than the previous grasslands. Why elephants are the keystone species in this scenario?
Elephants are not the most dominant species in African grasslands, yet they influence community structure. The grasslands contain scattered woody plants, but they are kept in check by the uprooting activities of the elephants. Take away the elephants, and the grasslands convert to forests or to shrublands. The newly growing forests support fewer species than the previous grasslands. Which of the following describes why elephants are the keystone species in this scenario?
A) Essentially all of the other species depend on the presence of the elephants to maintain the community.
<h3>Explanation:
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Shrubland is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs. According to this scenario, elephants are the keystone species because they have great affect on their ecosystem, and without them, the ecosystem would change or suffer
Which of the following describes why elephants are the keystone species in this scenario?
A) Essentially all of the other species depend on the presence of the elephants to maintain the community.
B) Grazing animals depend upon the elephants to convert forests to grassland.
C) Elephants prevent drought in African grasslands.
D) Elephants are the biggest herbivore in this community.
E) Elephants help other populations survive by keeping out many of the large African predators.
E) Elephants help other populations survive by repelling many large African predators
Explanation:
Elephants are large mammals. Elephants in Africa have a height of 4 meters and weigh up to 7 tons.
The role of elephants in the ecosystem is very important especially its impact both directly and indirectly on the environment. With a large size and height, other predatory animals such as lions, tigers, coyotes, hyenas do not want to get close to elephants. Elephants are animals that prefer to group. While still breastfeeding will be very protected by the mother for up to 3 years. Elephants have an average age of up to 70 years. Perhaps very few elephants have fallen prey to predators. Thus elephants are animals that indirectly protect other animals in Africa. Things like this also indirectly make grasslands become more fertile and other animal species also become more numerous.
So the most appropriate answer is E. E) Elephants help other populations survive by repelling many large African predators
