Keystone Species

Previous: Energy Transfer & Biotic Relationships

Keystone species are those that have the most influential effects on their environment and on other organisms within their communities. Often we think of top predators that strongly influence the relative abundance of other species within their community. But it can also be an organism that influences its environment through various 'acts of service' to other species within their community in a variety of ways.

Oak trees are considered keystone species in the Chicago Region, supporting biological diversity across many of our most important ecosystems. Oaks are pivotal to the natural function of these ecosystems and many species are dependent on oaks for their own survival.