Biogeosciences
Biogeosciences
BG
Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
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.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1583-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
Research article
 | 
25 Mar 2025
Research article |  | 25 Mar 2025

Elephant megacarcasses increase local nutrient pools in African savanna soils and plants

Courtney G. Reed, Michelle L. Budny, Johan T. du Toit, Ryan Helcoski, Joshua P. Schimel, Izak P. J. Smit, Tercia Strydom, Aimee Tallian, Dave I. Thompson, Helga van Coller, Nathan P. Lemoine, and Deron E. Burkepile

Viewed

Total article views: 1,330 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
957 232 141 1,330 71 37 41
  • HTML: 957
  • PDF: 232
  • XML: 141
  • Total: 1,330
  • Supplement: 71
  • BibTeX: 37
  • EndNote: 41
Views and downloads (calculated since 30 May 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 30 May 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,330 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,330 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 23 Apr 2025
Download
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.
Read more
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint