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Exploring Keystone Species

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Montage of keystone species from the interactive

Topic

  • Ecology
  • Ecosystems
  • Communities
  • Environmental Science
  • Conservation

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Click & Learn

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
5 Users
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Description

This Click & Learn shows that keystone species exist across a variety of ecosystems and can exert their influence in different ways.

Keystone species are species that play an “oversized” role in their environment. The Click & Learn uses a map-based interface to highlight 15 different keystone species around the world from a variety of trophic levels and ecological roles — including predators, herbivores, scavengers, and ecosystem engineers.

The species featured are the African elephant, blue crab, blue wildebeest, cougar (puma), Eurasian beaver, gray wolf, Indian vulture, largemouth bass, leopard, mound-building termite, plateau pika, purple sea star, Samoan flying fox (fruit bat), sea otter, and shark.
 

Student Learning Targets

  • Describe the critical role of a keystone species in its local ecosystem.
  • Identify different ecological roles occupied by keystone species. 
  • Describe different ways in which keystone species affect their environments.  
  • Explain how the concept of keystone species can be used in conservation. 

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period

Key Terms

ecosystem engineer, environmental health, habitat, mutualist, population, predator, trophic cascade

Primary Literature

Estes, James A., John Terborgh, Justin S. Brashares, Mary E. Power, Joel Berger, William J. Bond, Stephen R. Carpenter, et al. “Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth.” Science 333, 6040 (2011): 301–306. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1205106. 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Interactive media meets criteria.

Version History

Date Published 12.12.22

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-8, HS-LS4-5

AP Biology (2019)

 ENE-4.B, SYI-2.B, SYI3.G

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.1, 1.11, 2.7, 9.10
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.I

 

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

 2.1, 2.2, 3.4

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5

Materials

Transcript (PDF) 221 KB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Some Animals Are More Equal than Others: Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades
Video Resource
Trophic Cascades in Salt Marsh Ecosystems
Video Resource
How Termites Enrich Ecosystems

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