Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1583-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1583-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
25 Mar 2025
Research article |
| 25 Mar 2025
| 25 Mar 2025
Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Michelle L. Budny
Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Johan T. du Toit
Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, England, UK
Ryan Helcoski
Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
Joshua P. Schimel
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Izak P. J. Smit
Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
Tercia Strydom
Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
Aimee Tallian
Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
Department of Land and Biodiversity, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, Trondheim, 7485, Norway
Dave I. Thompson
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa, South Africa
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Helga van Coller
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa, South Africa
The Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON), Kimberley 8306, South Africa
Nathan P. Lemoine
Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Department of Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa, South Africa
Data sets
Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants Courtney Reed et al. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbwm
Short summary
We seek to understand the ecological legacies of elephants after death. We sampled soil and leaves at elephant carcass sites in South Africa and found that elephant carcasses release nutrients into soil, which plants take up and make available for consumption by herbivores. This research reveals a key way that elephants contribute to nutrient cycling in savannas after death. It also highlights an important process that may be lost in areas where elephant populations are in decline.
We seek to understand the ecological legacies of elephants after death. We sampled soil and...
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