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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Four Amazing Facts about Animals

 Fact 1: The toughest animal

    An animal, the tardigrade, is known as toughest animal.  
People think it is immortal because tardigrades can survive in every type of environment. 
It is not really immortal.

  • Tardigrades are famous for surviving extreme stress, but their ordinary life span is short — and they are not truly immortal.They have a lifespan of only a few months.
  • It is very interesting that tardigrade can survive at -273 °C to 150 °C(in laboratory). They can die when exposed to 87 °C hot water for one hour. 
  • They can also survive without food, oxygen, and other factors(also in vacuum).
  • Tardigrades are microscopic, eight-legged animals also known as "water bears" or "moss piglets".
  • They are usually 0.5 mm long when they are mature. 
  • They curl and dehydrate themselves in order to survive in harsh environment. This dry ball is called a tun, and this state is called cryptobiosis. 
  • In this state, it reduce metabolism to 0.01% and survives in harsh environments and radiation (even gamma rays).
  • These are oviparous, which means they lay eggs their eggs hatch in about 30 to 40 days.
  • Due to their unique qualities, they have survived five major extinction events. In addition, they existed from approximately 600 million years ago(before dinosaurs).
  • They are omnivores and feed on fluid of algae, bacteria, and plants.
    Tardigrade

Fact 2: The longest living creature

       Glass sponges are the longest living organisms. 

  • Research suggests they can live for over 10,000 years. 
  • Glass sponges are deep-sea, motionless marine animals. It is also known as venus flower basket.
  • Their skeleton is made up by fusion of needles like structure(spicules) made of silica.
  • They consume phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria from surroundings. They are filter feeders.
  • They live in the depths of about 200-600 meters in seas, attached to rocks or mud by roots.
  • They have existed from over 570 million years ago. They are supposed to be oldest animals in the world.
  • Once they were thought to be extinct approximately 40 million years ago. Then in 1987 living glass sponge reef discovered.
  • Their spicules(needle-like structure) emit light like fibre-optics.
  • They form symbiotic relationship with shrimps. Sometime pair of shrimps live inside glass sponge forever.
  • They can grow from one metre or more.

Fact 3: The most intelligent animal

    Aside from humans, the chimpanzee are among the most intelligent mammals.

  •  Chimpanzee are great apes and simply known as chimp.
  • They are social great apes and highly intelligent above all mammals (except humans).
  • They have bare faces and body is covered with black hair. Their face is light-colored when they are young. With the passage of time, it become darker.
  • They are omnivores, eat leaves, seeds, branches and meat. 
  • Generally, they walk on all four legs, but they can walk upright on two legs for short distances.
  • Their lifespan is approximately 40 to 60 years.
  • It is interesting that chimpanzee share 98% DNA with humans.
  • They can adopt every type of environment. Like humans they are also flexible to adapt in diverse environment.
  • They use different things as tool to perform different tasks. Such as use leaves to drink water and rocks to smash nuts.
  • They can recognize their face in mirror.
  • They also possess social intelligence. They live together and build their nests (every night built new nest for sleeping) , groups, sub groups and family.

Fact 4: The shortest lifespan

    The mayfly has the shortest adult lifespan of any known organism.

  • They have adult lifespan only for 24 hours or less. 
  • Their final hours are solely for mating before death.
  • They live underwater for three months to two years as nymph(larval stage).
  • They feed on algae.
  • They are ancient insects. They existed for over 350 million years.
  • They don't have mouthparts and, digestive system. They do not bite and sting. 
  • Large swarms of mayflies actively emerge during the summer months.
  • They features two large transparent wings, also two or three long, thread-like tail.

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