Keystone species

Trophic cascades occur when predators in a food web suppress the abundance and/or alter traits (e.g., behavior) of their prey, thereby releasing the next lower trophic level from predation (or herbivory if the intermediate trophic level is an herbivore). For example, if the abundance of large piscivorous fish is increased in a lake, the abundance of their prey, zooplanktivorous fish, should decrease, large zooplankton abundance should increase, and phytoplankton biomass should decrease. This…

In every ecosystem, an organism has a role to fulfill Learn the keystone species examples and why they are an important player in an ecosystem.

Beavers (like SPREE’s mascot, Chompers!) are cute, funky looking creatures that have inspired human curiosity for centuries, but did you know that they play an essential role in our river ecosystems? By blocking river flow, a beaver’s dam can create ponds or deeper channels of water. Many fish, like Colorado’s Greenback Cutthroat Trout, thrive in

Rewilding frequently involves restoring populations of so-called “keystone species”. But what exactly are they, and how can they improve rewilding outcomes?

Keystone Species Sampler: Purple Sea Star

Learn about keystone species in ecology. Get the definition and examples and discover the importance of a keystone species in an ecosystem.

Shelly Cove | HAPPY ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY! 🌎 Sea Turtles are “keystone species” which means they play a very important role in our ecosystem. However… | Instagram

define keystone species

Long-term observations by our sea otter scientists confirm that sea otters are transforming the Elkhorn Slough estuary, in positive ways, by devouring predators that keep eelgrass beds from thriving. We've told the story before, in words and pictures. For Sea Otter Awareness Week, we've created a simple infographic to document the relationships. You can read more on…