Elephant “gardeners” protect the planet

Elephants play a role in preventing the planet from warming, recent research has found. The study looked at African forest elephants in the rainforests of western and central Africa. These animals act as “gardeners” of the forest by eating plants and scattering seeds through their poop. Researchers found that the elephants’ actions are helpful in protecting against climate change (long-term changes in weather patterns, including temperature). In a forest, some trees have heavier, denser wood, while others have lighter wood. The trees with denser wood store more carbon, a gas that stays in Earth’s atmosphere and traps heat. But trees with low density tend to grow more quickly. They can block denser trees from getting the sunlight and nutrients they need. Researchers looked at forest elephants’ feeding habits. The elephants…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 148

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