References
[1] Schmitz, O. J. et al. 2023. Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions. Nature Climate Change 13: 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6
[2] Subalusky, A. L., Dutton, C. L. & Post, D. M. 2019. Context dependency of animal resource subsidies. Biological Reviews 94(2): 517–538. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12465
Wildebeest
Grasslands with healthy wildebeest populations store up to 4.4 million more tons of carbon dioxide than when wildebeest populations were at their lowest.
The Serengeti wildebeest plays a role in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem processes across the Serengeti–Mara landscape.
Earlier in the 20th century, the Wildebeest population had been largely obliterated by the rinderpest virus contracted from domesticated cattle. With the sudden reduction in grazing, standing grasses frequently fuelled widespread severe wildfires, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. [1]
After introducing a vaccine against the rinderpest virus, the wildebeest population saw a resurgence. Their grazing, and the introduction of insects into soil through wildebeest dung, helped transform the savanna from a fire-prone grassland carbon source to a carbon sink, storing up to 4.4 million more tons of carbon dioxide than when wildebeest populations were at their lowest. [1]
Further research explores the annual migration of approximately 1.2 million wildebeest through the Serengeti–Mara Ecosystem. During this process, thousands of animals drown each year while crossing the Mara River. Mass drownings contribute tons of biomass via wildebeest carcasses annually to the river system. [2]
These carcasses enter the aquatic ecosystem as a large pulse of organic material. Soft tissues decompose within weeks and are taken up by in-stream and terrestrial consumers, while bones decompose over years and continue to supply nutrients to the river over longer time periods. This contributes 34–50% of the assimilated diet of fish when carcasses are present, indicating that wildebeest significantly influence nutrient cycling and food web structure in the river. [2]
Wildebeest
Grasslands with healthy wildebeest populations store up to 4.4 million more tons of carbon dioxide than when wildebeest populations were at their lowest.
The Serengeti wildebeest plays a role in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem processes across the Serengeti–Mara landscape.
Earlier in the 20th century, the Wildebeest population had been largely obliterated by the rinderpest virus contracted from domesticated cattle. With the sudden reduction in grazing, standing grasses frequently fuelled widespread severe wildfires, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. [1]
After introducing a vaccine against the rinderpest virus, the wildebeest population saw a resurgence. Their grazing, and the introduction of insects into soil through wildebeest dung, helped transform the savanna from a fire-prone grassland carbon source to a carbon sink, storing up to 4.4 million more tons of carbon dioxide than when wildebeest populations were at their lowest. [1]
Further research explores the annual migration of approximately 1.2 million wildebeest through the Serengeti–Mara Ecosystem. During this process, thousands of animals drown each year while crossing the Mara River. Mass drownings contribute tons of biomass via wildebeest carcasses annually to the river system. [2]
These carcasses enter the aquatic ecosystem as a large pulse of organic material. Soft tissues decompose within weeks and are taken up by in-stream and terrestrial consumers, while bones decompose over years and continue to supply nutrients to the river over longer time periods. This contributes 34–50% of the assimilated diet of fish when carcasses are present, indicating that wildebeest significantly influence nutrient cycling and food web structure in the river. [2]