keystone species — A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkiːstoʊn ˈspiːʃiːz/
Example Sentences
- When bees disappeared from the area, farmers realized they were a keystone species for crop pollination.
- Sea otters are keystone species because without them, sea urchins would eat all the kelp forests.
- My mom is the keystone species of our family - when she goes on vacation, everything falls apart!
keystone species
NOUN[/ˈkiːstoʊn ˈspiːʃiːz/]
A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system
A keystone species otter controls the entire forest ecosystem balance
One creature's presence holds the keystone species in place — when it thrives, the entire ecosystem's interconnection thrives with it
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the architectural term 'keystone,' which refers to the central wedge stone in an arch that holds all other stones in place. The term was metaphorically applied in ecology in the 1960s to describe species that play a similarly crucial structural role in ecosystems.
Breakdown
key (central, crucial) + stone (rock/element) = keystone (the essential central component); species (biological classification) = keystone species (a species essential to ecosystem structure)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“When bees disappeared from the area, farmers realized they were a keystone species for crop pollination.”
“Sea otters are keystone species because without them, sea urchins would eat all the kelp forests.”
“My mom is the keystone species of our family - when she goes on vacation, everything falls apart!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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