Nature

Keystone Species

A keystone in an arch's crown secures the other stones in place. Keystone species play the same role in many ecological communities by maintaining the structure and integrity of the community. The ...
JSTOR Daily

Cultural Keystone Species: Implications for Ecological Conservation and Restoration

Ecology and Society, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Dec 2004) (18 pages) ABSTRACT. Ecologists have long recognized that some species, by virtue of the key roles they play in the overall structure and functioning of ...
Hartford Courant

Oaks, asters and 6 other ‘keystone’ native species to plant for biodiversity

University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy’s research has identified “keystone” plant species that make up the foundation of many U.S. ecosystems by producing food for native insects, thus ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Tide Shifts Against the Concept of a Keystone Species

New research is causing the original keystone species, the ochre sea star Pisaster ochraceus, to lose some of its supposed ecosystem-controlling powers. Photo by Jeff Rotman/Alamy Stock Photo This ...
EurekAlert!

A keystone species of Panamanian forests, D. oleifera fruits and seeds are a crucial food source for rainforest animals. (IMAGE)

Also known as the eboe, choibá, tonka bean or almendro, Dipteryx oleifera is native to Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. Its hard wood is used in construction, and it ...