keystone species

A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. A keystone species is often a dominant predator whose removal allows a prey population to explode and often decreases overall diversity. Other kinds of keystone species are those, such as coral or beavers, that significantly alter the habitat around them and thus affect large numbers of other organisms.
Compare indicator species

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The animals are regarded as "keystone" species which can create and maintain habitats for diverse other species.

From

If the keystone species puts a check on urchins, allowing kelp forests to heal, we could recover an economic driver and a powerful tool for fighting climate change.

From

“While there’s no silver bullet solutions to environmental restoration, beavers are a keystone species, and an important part of the puzzle to restore our ecosystems in California.”

From

Up close, you immediately understand why these shrubs are considered a keystone species — one of SoCal’s most important habitat plants — because the flowers are alive with bees, butterflies and a multitude of other nectar-loving bugs, not to mention the birds who happily dine at this insect buffet.

From

“The desert tortoise is considered a keystone species, which means that they have a disproportionate effect on the entire ecosystem,” says Henen, a civilian who heads the conservation branch of the base’s Environmental Affairs Division.

From

Keystoner Keystone State

Browse