The aptly named gopher tortoise is a keystone species of the southeastern United States, digging burrows that can extend more than 30 feet and serve as a habitat for more than 350 other species. Unfortunately, one of them is the red imported fire ant, an invasive species from South America that likely arrived in the 1930s and is named for the fiery sensation that often follows its sting.
source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-imported-red-ant-boost-burrow.html
