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Those of you who are up-to-date on EleFacts know that elephants are considered a “keystone species,” meaning that they are essential to the survival of many plants and animals in their ecosystem. In the past, we’ve found that sections of the sanctuary’s downed trees grow back more quickly than expected, since the trees scatter seeds when they are knocked down and the elephants also disperse seeds when they poop. Plus, the elephants’ clearing of space allows in light that nourishes smaller plants and animals. Elephants help large swaths of land to flourish and those places are increasingly in danger as elephants become fewer and fewer. 

A study recently published in the journal Science Advances proposes that African elephants and ebony trees have an important, mutually beneficial impact on each other. Forest elephants find the ebony tree fruits especially tasty and that means they drop a large number of seeds through their dung, spacing them out as they move. This process plays a huge role in the success of the ebony trees, which are often over-harvested for human use–so any method of seed dispersal is important. 

Because the number of African elephants continues to decrease, this intertwined connection is threatening the ebony trees, as is evident by the 68% drop in seed samples in the studied area over several years. The dwindling number of trees also reduces the amount of carbon absorbed from wooded areas. If the ebony trees are in danger, that will have a major effect on the climate throughout the entire area where elephants roam. Additionally, smaller plants and animals will have a more difficult time surviving due to increased tree cover (meaning less sunlight). This only reinforces the fact that elephants touch more than you might initially think and have an impact that stretches far and wide. 

If you’d like to read more, visit the online journal.

Photo of sweet Rana in front of a magnificent sanctuary sunset