Science Common Sense

376 - What is the significance of keystone species?

A keystone species is a special kind of animal that plays a crucial role in keeping its ecosystem balanced. If the keystone species disappears, the entire ecosystem might fall apart.

Think of it like a big stone at the top of an arch. If you take away the keystone, the whole arch collapses. In nature, a keystone species can be a predator that keeps other animals in check, a plant that provides food or shelter for many creatures, or even a tiny insect that pollinates flowers.

Examples of keystone species include wolves in Yellowstone (which keep deer populations under control), sea otters in kelp forests (which eat sea urchins that would otherwise destroy the kelp), and coral reef fish (which keep algae from overgrowing the coral).

So, keystone species are like superheroes that help keep their ecosystems healthy and diverse!