When researching keystone species, the topic of elephants comes up. A keystone species is a species that serves as the cornerstone of an ecosystem even if its population is small, and the creatures in the ecosystem seem to benefit greatly from the size and strength of elephants’ bodies and their ecology. There are three species of elephants: the African elephant that lives in the savanna, the African forest elephant that lives in the forest, and the Asian elephant. They are the largest land mammals on Earth.
ecosystem engineer
Organisms that contribute to ecosystems by modifying the environment as if they were doing construction work are called ecosystem engineers. Elephants use their strength to knock down trees, which become homes for geckos and other creatures, and the gaps created by thinning out the trees allow wind and light to pass through, helping to regenerate the forest. In addition, deep footprints made by the weight of an elephant’s 6-7 ton weight create puddles that become breeding grounds for frogs. To get water in the dry season, they also use branches to dig holes and dig groundwater like wells. Elephants help with leveling, demolition, thinning, and excavation work.
promote circulation
Elephants eat many plants, including fruits and seeds, so their dung contains seeds. Some seeds, such as acacia and baobab seeds, are more likely to germinate when they pass through the intestines of large mammals (Endozoochory), and this dispersal is called animal-feeding dispersal. The dung is moderately moist and provides a habitat for frogs, insects, and mushrooms, demonstrating the diversity of life.
And after elephants die, their bones provide other herbivores with phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, etc., a behavior known as osteophagy. The way in which feces and bones generate biodiversity seems similar to that of whales, but the impact of these giant creatures seems to be enormous.
遺伝子的要素
The uniqueness of elephants seems to be reflected in their genes, and their dexterous and versatile trunks have over 2,000 gene families, the most of any animal. In addition to their excellent sense of smell, their trunks also have over 150,000 muscles, making them extremely powerful.
Elephants also seem to be less susceptible to cancer. Normally, the larger an organism is, the more frequently its cells divide, which increases the chance of errors causing cancer cells. However, elephants seem to contradict this theory. Apparently, elephants produce large amounts of a protein called p53, which quickly eliminates cells with errors. This may be the secret to maintaining their longevity despite their large size.
The uniqueness of elephants
Elephants can communicate with others from several kilometers away by sensing low-frequency waves (vibrations from the ground) with their feet, and they can even call each other by name. They can also be seen playing, laughing, and mourning the death of a companion, and although it is impossible to judge their emotional state, there must be something that is conveyed to those watching.
There is also a test called the mirror test, which asks whether animals can recognize themselves in a mirror, and the only animals that pass it are apes (only gorillas fail), dolphins, magpies, and elephants. In the first place, there aren’t many mirrors in nature, so seeing one’s own reflection may be a rare experience. The majority of living things may end their lives without ever knowing what they look like.
Elephants are amazing
Apparently, when elephants get angry, lions and hippos run away, but they don’t knock down trees with chicks in them, and there are many stories about their kindness. Elephants are also weak to alcohol and get drunk easily, and they are the only mammals that can’t jump, so it may be rare to find an animal with so many stories to tell. It’s strange that they are so strong, yet when you look at them, you feel soothed. Elephants are amazing. The Earth’s biological system is amazing.
