Shit Happens (to be Useful)! Use of Elephant Dung as Habitat by Amphibians

Author: Campos-Arceiz, Ahimsa

Source: Biotropica, Volume 41, Number 4, July 2009 , pp. 406-407(2)

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Abstract:

Although elephants are commonly cited as an example of ecosystem engineering, cases involving Asian elephants are missing in the literature. In a dry environment of southeastern Sri Lanka, I examined 290 elephant dung piles and found a total of six frogs from three different species in 1.7 percent (N=5) of the dung piles. This suggests a facilitative role of elephants by providing habitat for amphibians.

Keywords: Asian elephant; Bundala National Park; ecosystem engineering; Elephas maximus; facilitation; Microhyla; Sri Lanka

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00525.x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan

Publication date: 2009-07-01