Elephants are not the most common species in African grasslands. The grasslands contain scattered woody plants, but they are kept in check by the uprooting activities of the elephants. Take away the elephants, and the grasslands convert to forests or to shrublands. The newly growing forests support fewer species than the previous grasslands. Elephants can be defined as what type of species in this community? A) redundant B) dominant C) keystone D) dominant and keystone E) none of the above

The elephants are animals that can be classified as both dominant species and as keystone species. A dominant species is a species that is in relatively small numbers, but it dominates the community. We can easily see this with the elephants, as they are not many in number, but they are the largest and strongest animals in their community, and no other animal can dominate over them. A keystone species is a species that has a key role in the functioning of the community, its structure, well being, and even existence. Again, we can easily see this in the elephants as the savanna is completely dependent on them. If the elephants are not present with their activities, the vast grasslands will soon turn into forests or mixture of trees and shrubs, thus the community will change dramatically. That will lead to the dying out of most of the species that live int he savanna as they are not well adapted to survive in a community with dense tropical vegetation.