Florida alligators help other lives thrive
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Alligators living in Florida’s swamps create nutrient-rich hotspots that help some algae, plants and other animals thrive.
Animals such as beavers are widely regarded as ecosystem engineers – by cutting down trees and building dams, they change their environment in ways that benefit other species. But American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) have rarely been considered for their impact on wetland ecosystems, despite their tendency to leave a mark on the landscape. From the muddy marshland, the large reptiles use their snouts and tails to dig holes in…