What is a Keystone Species: Definition, Types, Characteristics, Importance, Examples, and Ecological Role

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 Introduction:      A keystone species is an organism that plays a disproportionately large role in maintaining the structure, stability, and functioning of an ecosystem. Another definition of keystone species is a species whose impact on its ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance or biomass. They are named after the keystone in a stone arch, the central wedge-shaped stone that holds the entire arch together. In 1969 zoologist Robert T. Paine used this architectural term as a metaphor to describe the critical role of these species. Although keystone species are often low in abundance, their removal can cause major changes throughout an ecosystem. Not all dominant or abundant species are keystone species. A keystone species is identified by the magnitude of its ecological impact rather than by its population size. Some keystone species are abundant, while others are relatively rare. Keystone in a stone arch History of keystone species concept...
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Apex Predators: Examples, Characteristics, and Ecological Impact

 Who is apex predator?

        An animal who have no natural predator is called apex predator. Apex predator is always at
the top of food chain. They have powerful jaws, sharp claw and strong hunting techniques.

Predator and prey:

    Animals who hunt other animals and eat them are called predator. An animal which is eaten by
predator is called prey. For example lion eats deer in this interaction lion is predator and deer is
prey. All carnivores are predators.

Importance of apex predator:

        Apex predator are very important in balancing and maintaining factors of ecosystem.
1. Apex predator play an important role in control of over population of other animals include
herbivores. Without predators herbivores increase that lead to over grazing, harmful for plant
specie.
2. Apex predator help in prevention of habitat by control of herbivores. Control of herbivores
prevent plants which maintain climate.
3. Mostly predator hunt sick and weak animal. The removing of sick animal  reduce from 
spreading diseases, which lead to promote a healthy ecosystem.

Examples:

There are many predator in ecosystem. Detail of few examples are below:

Lions: (Scientific name: Panthera leo)

    These are terrestrial or land mammals. . The male are large than their females. They have very long 
hairs on their faces (absent in females). Their life span is approximately 10 to 16 years and
mass is 130 to 190 kg. They live in dry grass land and rain forest of Aferica, America, India
 and some others. They are apex predator and eat meat of herbivores and some other animals.

Orca: (Scientific name: Orcinus orca)

    Orca also known as killer whale are marine mammals. They are member of tooth whales (an order of marine animals having teeth as like whale, dolphin).
These are biggest member of dolphin family. It has black and white patterns body. They live in cool water, more abundant in Pacific and Arctic oceans. Their life span is 50 to 90 years and mass is 3,000 to 4,000 kg. According to researchers killer whales are just 50,000 are left. 2,500 are live in Pacific ocean. 
   
Wolf: (Scientific name: Canis lupus)
Wolves are also terrestrial mammals. They are classified into number of species but major classification are three gray wolf, red wolf and ethiopian wolf. their life span is different for different species but average is 12 to 15 years. In female their mass 23 to 55 kg, in male it is 30 to 80 kg. They eat moose, bison, deer and many more herbivores. Wolves are live with their family in a group. They are intelligent but not interact with other animals.

Polar bear: (Scientific name: Ursus maritimus)

    Polar bear is a large white bear. Its total body covers with white furry hairs which protect it from cold and makes able to live in extremely cold habitat. It is very related to grizzly or
brown bear.  Its life span is 20 to 30 years.
Sometimes it reach up to 35 years. In male its mass is approximately 450kg and in female is150 to 250kg. They eat arctic fox , seals and some other polar animals. They are very strong even 2% hunts are successful. They live in arctic regions.

    

   

    
    

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