[ kē ′stōn′ ] A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. In order to understand that role, you need to understand what an ecosystem is. “Keystone Species.” Biologydictionary.net Editors. This biology dictionary is here to help you learn about all sorts of biology terms, principles, and life forms. The sea otter (shown below) is considered a keystone species as their consumption of sea urchins, preventing the destruction of kelp forests caused by the sea urchin population. However, when sea otters are present, their consumption of sea urchins restricts the sea urchin population to smaller organisms confined to protective crevices. The Biology Keystone Exams will measure the Biology Assessment Anchors as defined by the Eligible Content and will be aligned to the Concepts and Competencies. In many cases, when the sea star is removed from an ecosystem, the population of mussels proliferates uncontrollably, and negatively effects the resources available to other species within the ecosystem.Biologydictionary.net Editors. Keystone Species. Keystone Species Definition Keystone species are those which have an extremely high impact on a particular ecosystem relative to its population. (2017, December 25). Keystone species are also critical for the overall structure and function of an ecosystem, and influence which other types of plants and animals make up that ecosystem. Biologydictionary.net, December 25, 2017. https://biologydictionary.net/keystone-species/. In the absence of sea otters, sea urchins feed on the nearshore kelp forests, thereby disrupting these nearshore ecosystems. Thus, the sea otter protects the kelp forests by reducing the local sea urchin population.While small predators are important keystone species in many ecosystems, as mentioned above, large mammalian predators are also considered keystone species in larger ecosystems. Keystone species, in ecology, a species that has a disproportionately large effect on the communities in which it occurs.

A keystone species is often a dominant predator whose removal allows a prey population to explode and often decreases overall diversity.

In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. A keystone species is a species that plays a particularly important role in an ecosystem. A keystone species is often a dominant predator whose removal allows a prey population to explode and often decreases overall diversity.
3 or keystone species : a species of plant or animal that produces a major impact (as by predation) on its ecosystem and is considered essential to maintaining optimum ecosystem function or structure Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about keystone For example, the lion, jaguar (shown below), and gray wolf are considered keystone species as they help balance large ecosystems (e.g., Central and South American rainforests) by consuming a wide variety of prey species.Sea stars (shown below) are another commonly recognized keystone species as they consume mussels in areas without natural predators. Biology is the study of living things. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different. Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference?All Of These Words Are Offensive (But Only Sometimes)What Is The Difference Between “Furlough” vs. “Layoff”?“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time“Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What Do These Terms Mean?It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Activation Energy Energy needed to get a reaction started.


Such species help to maintain local biodiversity within a community either by controlling populations of other species that would otherwise dominate the community or by providing critical resources for a wide range of species.

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