# 1.

Seed Dispersing Gardeners:

Elephants just living help the ecosystem. Due to the fact that elephants eat many
plants containing seeds, their droppings also contain seeds and lots of nutrients. As
elephants roam around their habitat leaving their droppings, the seeds in their dropping
are then “replanted”. Because of the rich nutirence containing in the droppings, it makes
for excellent fertalizer to allow the seeds to germinate and grow. The seeds then grow
into new grass, bushes, and trees. This process the elephants acquire, over all helps boost
the health of the savannah ecosystem. Elephants can spread seeds as far as 35.4 miles,
providing opportunities for plants to spread to new areas. These plants then provide
habitats for a range of animals.
I put seed dispersing as number 1 because plants are the foundation of Africa’s
ecosystem. Many plants that make up the ecosystem would have nothing rely on without
the elephants. Without a strong base for the ecosystem every other reason after it
wouldn’t matter.
# 2. Water Providers:
In Africa, dry weather can be a major issue for all types of animals that share the
environment. For larger animals, such as these fascinating elephants, the lack of water
can be a colossal problem. Because of how the elephants are built, they can survive
through the dry weather. Elephants acquire many methods to find water depending on the
given conditions. During dryer seasons, elephants turn to using their massive ivory tusk
to dig wells in the ground to reveal the water below the surface. They also use their feet,
trunks, and tusks to to create holes in the ground to once again reach water. These
elephants are not only capable of providing water for themselves, but also provide water
to other animals who are in the same dry conditions.
When it comes to surviving in dry weather, the elephants are life savers to other
species in the habitat. Because of how the elephants are built, they are big enough to dig
in the group and supply themselves with water. This water not only helps the elephants
but other animals trying to survive in the same harsh conditions.
# 3. Habitat Modifiers:
As elephants walk around, they trample unpleasant shrubbery creating clearings.
This allows new plants to grow, creating new habitats for smaller animals within the
trees. The clearings also allow more light to to reach the forest floor, this allows the lower
lying plants a chance to recieve more sunlight and grow. This promotes biodiversity,
providing new roles for organisms to occupy. Elephants also provide habitats for smaller
animals by knocking down trees and creating new spaces.
I have put this in the third spot because it goes along with reason number one.
The elephants help out so many animals, if they were gone the ecosystem would suffer.
Without knowing it they are the support and foundation to the living of so many other
animals.

# 4. Food Providers:
 Elephants are one of the many food cycles in the ecosystem. As any animal does,
elephants leave their droppings everywhere they go. The elephant’s dropping are very
major food resource for the many species that share their home with the elephants. Dung
bettles are one of the many examples. The beetles collect the elephant dropping, they then
store it to feed their larvae. Elephants also use their strong tusk to pull down branches,
that provide fruit and leaves as a food resource to the lower level animals. The elephants
also eat plants and leaves on the ground, when they do so, they create gaps in the plants
and leaves. These gaps function as pathways for smaller animals to roam around their
habitat. These gaps also give the other plants the chance to grow.
I have put this as number 4 for the same reason that many animals rely on the
elephants. Even though these animals are capable of providing food for themselves, the
elephants make their lives easier just by living.
# 5. Tourist Attraction:
Tourist that travel to Africa, typically come to see the beautiful animals. Each
year Africa makes about US$25 million from tourism alone. The elephants are one of the
biggest attractions loved by all ages. A study estimated, in an elephants life time their
tourism value is around US $1.6 million. Not to mention tourism accounts for 10% of the
countries economy.
In number 5 I have put tourist attractions. While this is an important reason for
Africa’s economy, without any of the reasons above they would lack all aspects of
tourism. Most tourist come to see the beautiful environment and animals that come with
the amazing country, without the elephants the environment as a whole would be
effected.