Trepan hasta diez metros de altura para alimentarse en árboles de argán, generando una estampa visual casi surrealista

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[–] 4 points 1 week ago*

Had to open the article to see the picture better:

goats in a tree

The argan tree is an endemic forest species that grows only in southwestern Morocco, where it occupies thousands of hectares of arid land. Its incalculable environmental value motivated UNESCO to declare these forests a Biosphere Reserve in 1998. This ancient plant fulfils a decisive ecological function by slowing down the severe soil erosion caused by wind and water. In times of prolonged drought and lack of moisture, its fleshy fruits represent the only green food available to ruminants. The species has suffered from worrying deforestation over the last century. Its preservation is essential for the local ecosystem. Argan is the natural barrier against desertification.

Beyond feeding, goats play a key role in the dissemination of argan through a peculiar biological mechanism. A study by the CSIC's Doñana Biological Station found that these ruminants do not digest or defecate the large seeds. Instead, the goats chew on the consumed fruit and spit out the hard intact nuts on the ground as they walk. This variant of endozoochory allows clean seeds to be disseminated at a great distance from the parent tree, favoring their germination. By spitting the bones into new soil, the animals regenerate the forest. Goat interaction drives the growth of new specimens.

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