keystone species

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Videos

How sea otters preserve their ecosystem

“Otters, Algae, and Plants, Oh My”

Read Next

Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) photographed in the Midwest in 2017. endangered species insect pollination

What Would Happen If All the Bees Died?

Model of global ocean currents and temperatures

How Do Ocean Currents Affect the Biosphere?

The Panamanian Golden Frog is a critically endangered frog which is endemic to Panama.

Extinct in the Wild but Still Around: 5 Plants and Animals Kept Alive by Humans

Path through summer forest in the Ukraine. (trees, lush, green, walk, walkway, road, Ukrainia, Ukrainian, woods)

What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Ecological Succession?

Portrait of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bayanga, Central African Republic

Gorilla gorilla, Sula sula, and Other Animals Whose Names Are Tautonyms—the Same for Genus and Species

Discover

Flags of the countries of the world (flagpoles).

How Many Countries Are There in the World?

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

Agnes with a lamb near her feet. St. Agnes (Saint Agnes) design drawing for stained glass window by J&R Lamb Studios, ink, mount size 10.5 x 14.5 in.

Roman Catholic Saints

Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration

Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics

10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

Statue of Nostradamus

Nostradamus and His Prophecies

keystone species: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Videos

How sea otters preserve their ecosystem

See All Videos and Podcasts →

Topics

species community niche biodiversity trophic pyramid guild ecotone indicator species ecological succession food chain biome

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

community ecology: Keystone species

Quiz

Chutes d'Ekom - a waterfall on the Nkam river in the rainforest near Melong, in the western highlands of Cameroon in Africa.

Ecosystems