Shit Happens (to be Useful)! Use of Elephant Dung as Habitat by Amphibians |
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Authors: | Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Biodiversity Science, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8657, Tokyo, Japan |
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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.
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Keywords: | Asian elephant Bundala National Park ecosystem engineering Elephas maximus facilitation Microhyla Sri Lanka |
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