The concept was introduced in 1969 by the zoologist robert t Their roles are so specialized that their absence can’t be compensated for, leading to disruptions in ecosystem processes and potential instability. What is a keystone species
Sharon Piel Morena
A keystone species is an animal or organism that holds an ecosystem together
The loss of the organism results in the dramatic change or destruction of the ecosystem
A keystone species can be anything from fungi and other plants to herbivores, carnivores, and mutualists. In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different Some ecosystems might not be able to adapt to environmental changes if their keystone species disappeared.
Learn about keystone species in ecology Get the definition and examples and discover the importance of a keystone species in an ecosystem. Keystone species, in ecology, a species that has a disproportionately large effect on the communities in which it lives Many are apex predators (meaning without a natural predator or enemy).
The term keystone species describes a species that occupies a key ecological role duplicated by no other species in the ecosystem
Without the keystone species, the entire ecosystem collapses, impacting other species Examples of keystone species are often predators such as grey wolves or sea otters. Keystone species often perform ecological functions that no other species can replicate
