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Grazing species such as plains bison, which is another keystone species, the pronghorn, and the mule deer have shown a proclivity for grazing on the same land used by prairie dogs. [26] Beaver dam, an animal construction which has a transformative effect on the environment. The beaver is a well known ecosystem engineer and keystone species. It ...
Robert Treat "Bob" Paine III (April 13, 1933 – June 13, 2016) was an American ecologist who spent most of his career at the University of Washington.Paine coined the keystone species [1] [2] [3] concept to explain the relationship between Pisaster ochraceus, a species of starfish, and Mytilus californianus, a species of mussel.
Not all cultural keystone species are beneficial to a community or an ecosystem, particularly when the species is considered invasive. [2] One example of this is the Australian Eucalyptus tree that is now widespread in California and is considered to be culturally important because of its aesthetic value and dietary uses.
Gardeners are increasingly seeing the value in plants that encourage nature's diversity, say local nursery experts..
Introduced species, which may be invasive species, are often ecosystem engineers. Kudzu, a leguminous plant introduced to the southeast U.S., changes the distribution and number of animal and bird species in the areas it invades. It also crowds out native plant species. The zebra mussel is an ecosystem engineer in North America.
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Paine defined the concept of a keystone species as a species that has a disproportionate effect on the community structure of an environment in relation to its total biomass. This keystone species effect forms the basis for the concept of ecological extinction.