Elephants on Africa's Serengeti plains eat small trees, such as acacia, by knocking them over and uprooting them.This behavior keeps the region a grassland rather than a forest or woodland.The grassland sustains large grazers such as antelopes, wildebeests, and zebras, and small mice and shrews.These in turn feed predators such as lions and hyenas.Because of their position in this ecosystem, elephants can be considered a(n)

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Elephants are considered a keystone species because they play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem of the Serengeti plains. By keeping the region a grassland, they provide habitat and food for a variety of other species, both large and small. If elephants were to disappear from the ecosystem, it could have a ripple effect on the entire food web.

Elephants on Africa's Serengeti Plains Eat Small Trees, Such as Acacia