Ethiopian Highlands Food Web
Terrestrial
Montane Grasslands & Shrublands
Ethiopian Highlands — Simien and Bale Mountains
Description
The Ethiopian Highlands are the largest continuous area of high-altitude terrain in Africa, supporting the endemic Ethiopian wolf, gelada baboon, and giant lobelia. These Afro-alpine grasslands and moorlands above 3,000 meters harbor over 80% of Africa's land above that elevation. The Ethiopian wolf is the world's rarest canid, specializing in hunting giant mole-rats.
Trophic Pyramid
Level 5
Decomposers
Highland fungi
Soil bacteria
Dung beetles
3 species
Level 4
Tertiary Consumers
Verreaux's eagle
Leopard
2 species
Level 3
Secondary Consumers
Ethiopian wolf
Augur buzzard
Serval
3 species
Level 2
Primary Consumers
Giant mole-rat
Gelada baboon
Mountain nyala
3 species
Level 1
Producers
Afro-alpine grasses
Giant lobelia
Helichrysum shrubs
3 species
Apex Predators
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers
Key Interactions
- Ethiopian wolves specialize in solitary hunting of giant mole-rats in Afro-alpine meadows
- Gelada baboons are the only grass-eating primates, forming herds of hundreds
- Rabies transmitted from domestic dogs threatens the entire Ethiopian wolf population
- Giant lobelias provide nectar for endemic sunbirds at high altitude