keystone species
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Keystone Species - Definition, Examples, Importance
Learn about keystone species in ecology. Get the definition and examples and discover the importance of a keystone species in an ecosystem.
sciencenotes.org →American zoologist Robert T. Paine introduced the term “keystone species” in 1969. During his studies of the intertidal ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest, Paine observed that certain species, such as the sea star Pisaster ochraceus , played a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of the ecosystem. When Paine artificially removed the sea star from a region, species diversity quickly plummeted, ultimately wiping out the benthic algae in the area. Removing the sea star reduced the diversity in the study area from fifteen species to eight. Paine likened the role of significant species to the keystone in an arch, which is a small part of the arch but holds the entire structure together. Gray wolves control herbivores , which otherwise overgraze an area. Overgrazing reduces the number and diversity of plants and trees, reducing the available habitat for other species. Indications of the benefits of re-introduction of wolves into their native habitats include increased willow, beaver, and songbird populations. Sea otters regulate the sea urchin population, keeping their consumption of kelp forest in check. The kelp forests are host for a number of other species. The North American beaver builds dams which modify the habitat of an ecosystem and determine which species live there. The Saguaro cactus is a keystone species because it is the habitat for numerous other species. Bees are keystone species that act as pollinators, ensuring plant diversity in an ecosystem. In turn, the plants support insects and other animals and influence the nutrient profile and weather of an ecosystem. Keystone species play a vital role in maintaining the structure, function, and stability of their ecosystems. Their removal or decline can have far-reaching consequences, leading to the loss of biodiversity, alteration of ecosystem processes, and even ecosystem collapse. Identifying and protecting keystone species is essential for effective conservation and management strategies. Despite its importance, the keystone species concept has some limitations. It can be challenging to identify keystone species, as their impact may not be immediately apparent or easily measurable. Additionally, ecosystems are complex and dynamic, and the role of a species within an ecosystem may change over time or under different conditions. Also, the conservation of an ecosystem requires a holistic approach that goes beyond the protection of individual species. Caro, Tim (2010). Conservation by proxy: indicator, umbrella, keystone, flagship, and other surrogate species . Washington, DC: Island Press. ISBN 9781597261920. Cottee-Jones, Henry Eden W; Whittaker, Robert J. (2012). “Perspective: The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal”. Frontiers of Biogeography . 4 (3). doi:10.21425/F54312533 Learn what a food web is, see examples, and explore its parts, types, importance, and threats in this comprehensive ecology guide. Learn about a food chain in ecology. Get the definition and examples of food chains and see the different types. Learn about parasitism in ecology. Get the definition and see examples of parasites and their host species.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- species
- Subclass of
- organism
- Part of
- ecological community
- Has part
- apex predator
- Named after
- keystone
- Image
- Junior-Jaguar-Belize-Zoo.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- discoverer or inventor
- Robert T. Paine
- facet of
- natural environment
- model item
- lion
- has characteristic
- importance
- described at URL
- sciencenotes.org/keystone-species-definition-examples-importance
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Encyclopedic overview
The jaguar: a keystone, flagship, and umbrella species, and an apex predator The beaver: a keystone species, and habitat creator, responsible for ecological effects such as the creation of lakes, canals and wetlands irrigating large forests and creating ecosystems A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance. The concept was introduced in 1969 by the zoologist Robert T. Paine. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. Some keystone species, such as the wolf and lion, are also apex predators.
The role that a keystone species plays in its ecosystem is analogous to the role of a keystone in an arch. While the keystone is under the least pressure of any of the stones in an arch, the arch still collapses without it. Similarly, an ecosystem may experience a dramatic shift if a keystone species is removed, even though that species was a small part of the ecosystem by measures of biomass or productivity. It became a popular concept in conservation biology, alongside flagship and umbrella species. Although the concept is valued as a descriptor for particularly strong inter-species interactions, and has allowed easier communication between ecologists and conservation policy-makers, it has been criticized for oversimplifying complex ecological systems.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “keystone species” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.