A keystone species is a taxon whose ecological impact on community structure and ecosystem function is disproportionately large relative to its abundance or biomass. Through trophic interactions, habitat modification, or regulation of competitors and prey, keystone species maintain species diversity, control population dynamics, and stabilize food web architecture. Their removal typically triggers cascading effects, such as trophic cascades, phase shifts, or regime changes, often resulting in altered nutrient cycling, productivity, and community composition. Identification of keystone species commonly involves experimental manipulations, network analysis, and quantitative measures of interaction strength to distinguish their role from that of dominant or foundation species in ecological systems.
In Nature Ecology & Evolution, a group of researchers reveal the cause of sea star wasting disease (SSWD). This discovery comes more than a decade after the start of the marine epidemic that has killed billions of sea stars—representing ...
Ecology
Aug 4, 2025
0
73
In a study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that the presence of critically endangered Asian elephants (Elephas ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 7, 2025
0
60
Antarctic krill is a key species in the Antarctic marine ecosystem as an important food source for many species, such as whales, seals and penguins. However, the small crustaceans are increasingly targeted as part of a growing ...
Ecology
Jun 17, 2025
0
26
