Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Keystone Species


What is a keystone species?
A keystone species is a species that has an impact on its community that is both strong and disproportionate to its abundance. The keystone analogy refers to the architectural element at the apex of an arch that locks the other pieces into position, and is used colloquially to refer to the supporting element of a larger structure.
The keystone species of the Intertidal Zone are:
Sea otters
Urchins
Kelp

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