What ecological designation is given to the Western Gorilla due to its consumption patterns affecting local vegetation structure?
Answer
An important ecological engineer
Due to the massive volume of plant matter consumed daily, the feeding activities of the Western Gorilla have a profound effect on its habitat structure. By selectively pruning the lower vegetation layers—stripping stems and removing leaves—they fundamentally alter the local environment. This large-scale, selective removal classifies them as an important ecological engineer, influencing which plant species are able to thrive and maintaining the structure of the forest layers they depend upon.
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