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The Impact of Removing a Keystone Species on an Ecosystem

Jennifer Bacuylima

St. Thomas University

BSC-2064-OL1

Professor Valls Palacios Reese

February 6, 2025

The Impact of Removing a Keystone Species on an Ecosystem

The primary role of keystone species keeps an ecosystem sound by protecting its foundation and operational functions along with species diversity. When this species gets eliminated, it initiates destructive ecological effects leading to trophic cascade sequences which also result in habitat destruction and reduced biodiversity (OpenStax, 2021).

Research has extensively documented the situation where sea otters (Enhydra lutris) were extracted from coastal regions. The population of sea urchins grows unchecked in areas where sea otters are no longer present thus leading to destruction of kelp forests. Kelp forest elimination produces habitat destruction which results in reduced biodiversity together with ecosystem stability changes (Estes et al., 2011). Wolves (Canis lupus) extinction in Yellowstone National Park enabled elk populations to surpass their threshold allowing vegetation to suffer from excessive consumption. The elimination of willows and aspens through this process reduced the habitat of beavers and songbirds and many other species dependent on these plants because of Ripple and Beschta's (2012) research.

Keystone species which perform pollination serve equally important roles for ecosystem sustainability compared to predators. Herbivorous species together with entire food webs face impacts from reduced plant reproduction because research shows that disappearing bees and pollinators are linked to this decrease (Potts et al., 2010). Ecosystem resilience and health together with trophic equilibrium receive support from keystone species.

Ecological collapse and dramatic habitat loss along with biodiversity reduction are direct outcomes when keystone species become extinct. The preservation of ecosystem stability requires conservation projects to make key species the top focus for protecting their stability and functionality.

References

Estes, J. A., Terborgh, J., Brashares, J. S., Power, M. E., Berger, J., Bond, W. J., ... & Wardle, D. A. (2011). Trophic downgrading of planet Earth. Science, 333(6040), 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1205106

OpenStax. (2021). Energy flow through ecosystems. In Biology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/46-2-energy-flow-through-ecosystems

Potts, S. G., Biesmeijer, J. C., Kremen, C., Neumann, P., Schweiger, O., & Kunin, W. E. (2010). Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts, and drivers. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(6), 345-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2010.01.007

Ripple, W. J., & Beschta, R. L. (2012). Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation, 145(1), 205-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005