PACE Vocab – keystone “KEYSTONE SPECIES”
A key stone is the central supporting stone at the top of an arch, it holds all the others in place. If a keystone is removed the arch collapses. A keystone species has the same role. Keystone species maintain the balance in their ecosystem, keep it functioning and healthy. If a keystone species is removed or disappears then food webs, habitats, ecosystems and the plants and animals living there are all disrupted. Because they are so important, keystone species are [...]