Download Role of Keystone, Invasive, & Endangered Species in African Savanna and more Thesis Financial Accounting in PDF only on Docsity! BIO 220 Biome and Ecosystem Essay Grand Canyon University BIO 220: Environmental Science Two important things when it comes to understanding the environment are biomes, and ecosystems. Biomes are known as a several ecosystems that have similar climate conditions, and similar species. Biomes are located around the world. While an ecosystem is a group that have abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic meaning non-living, and biotic meaning living components in the ecosystem. Within Tropical Grasslands Biome, there are examples of keystone species, invasive species, and endangered species which all play an important role in the Tropical Grassland Biome and African Savannas. Within the African Savannas ecosystem, the keystone species play a huge role on how other species in this ecosystem can survive, and if the keystone species did not exist, then the African Savannas would not exist as well. A keystone specie in the African Savannas is an elephant. According to National Geographic, in order for the African savannas to stay a grassland and not a forest, elephants consume smaller trees like the acacia that are growing this biome and ecosystem. This also makes it an open area so the animals and plants here can survive (National Geographic, 2020). By taking down certain trees, the elephants provide sources of food for the animals that essentially cannot get up as high as an elephant can for food. Without elephants being able to provide food for the ground animals and plants, and making open landscapes to keep the African savannas from becoming a forest, the Tropical Grassland Biome and African Savannas would be a reason it would cease to exist. Even though the African Savanna has keystone species, they also have invasive species. Meaning this type of species can cause harm to the ecosystem which can cause to extinction of animals and plants within the African savannas. An example of an invasive species in the African savanna are the bigheaded ants. With elephants knocking down the acacia trees for the ecosystem to stay balanced, the bigheaded ants takeover the tree and sting when they feel danger which keeps the elephants away from the acacia trees this blocks the savanna from becoming a grassland (Stokstad, 2014). By having these ants on the trees, this affects other species that rely on the elephants job to bring down the tree. Environmentalist are studying these ants and want to increase the bio security to help prevent species that inflict danger towards other species from flourishing in their ecosystem. Grevy’s Zebra is an example of an endangered species. According to Fuller, over 15,000 of the Grevy’s zebra lived in Africa and now less than 2,000 were known to be living in 2011. One of the main reasons as to why this type of animal is endangered is because of human hunting them. Which leads to this type of animal being one of the most endangered species. On the Bright side, there is an organization that is protecting the Grevy’s zebra from being endangered. This organization is called the Grevy’s Zebra Trust. Their mission is to protect the endangered species and their environment within the communities (Saint Louis Zoo, 2021). By protecting the ecosystem from invasive species and humans hunting the Grevy’s zebra, the population of them can grow which leads to helping the ecosystem. Coming to understand the Tropical Grassland of the African Savannas can help one to have a better understanding of the species that live under this specific biome and ecosystem. An elephant being a keystone species is an important role within the African savannas. Just as important the keystone species are, the invasive species are just as important to understand why they can be a danger to the ecosystem staying balanced. The ability of helping and protecting endangered species from said invasive species and or humans who hunt them can lead to these species to stay alive and thrive within their ecosystem.
