Keystone Species Essay

Keystone Species Essay
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to
its population's size. There are three main types of keystone species, the predator species who feed
on other animals which helps balance out the ecosystem The Mutualists who have mutually
beneficial interactions with other organisms and lastly the engineer species that will burrow into
ground which can be used as shelter for another animal. Without these important species several
ecosystems would collapse. While all species are important to an ecosystem, the keystone species
are a lot more important due to their crucial roles, such as being top predators, controllers of prey, or
conduits for spreading seeds. The keystone species that I ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Since a study taken in 1995 it has lost over 60% of their entire population. A recent estimate credited
the Tasmanian devils to have nearly 25,000 – 50,000 living and healthy animals (Bohn, 2014). The
main reason the animals have become an endangered species at such an accelerated rate recently
compared to previous years is because of a disease called Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). The
DTFD is a cancer/tumor which is found in the mouth of the devil, which over time will develop into
large tumors that eventually breakdown the bodily functions leaving the devil to die of starvation. A
possible solution to help save the Tasmanian devils from extinction could be to take majority of the
healthy Devils and keep them in a safe and controlled habitat to ensure that there is no possible way
for them to catch the disease. Sick devils could be isolated in and I would get scientists with proper
funding to learn the causes and experiment to find a cure, then slowly start releasing the
rehabilitated devils back into their environment. An organization called "Devil Ark" has already
somewhat started to help save the Tassie Devils by taking control of 52% of the mainland
population, the organization aims to repopulate the Devils, then when the disease has passed they
will eventually be released. "We at Devil Ark believe the recovery of the devil is a national
responsibility" said Mr. Faulkner (Sanda,
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

What Is Non Charismatic Species?
Charismatic animal species are those that are seen as more appealing to the general public. Although
the term charismatic is widely used in conservation literature there is little consensus of a definition
of what makes species charismatic (Ducarme, Luque, & Courchamp 2013). Charismatic species
seems to consists mainly of large mammals (Megafauna) and vertebrate's examples include lions,
tigers, turtles and primates to name a few which all have attractive traits that are considered
attractive to the human population such as intelligence, beauty, valour, singularity or a strong
symbolic presents. However, there is no sufficient consensus definition for such a widely used term,
although it is widely accepted that these species defined as charismatic ... Show more content on
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This has resulted in conservationist choosing megafauna and vertebrate species that people find
most aesthetically pleasing on the eye as the subject of their studies as this has more chance of
gaining the public support and funding for any given study. However, this is leading to the
extinction of some species where there is little information available or conservation effort made.
The extinction of non–charismatic species could have a dramatic impact on the charismatic species
as biodiversity is an important factor for species survival. Conservationists need to develop effective
ways to communicate the importance of funding conservation efforts for ugly and unpopular
species. This dissertation paper will therefore, try and bridge the gap in funding and conservation
action of non–charismatic species. This will be achieved by testing and using methods of effective
use of advertising in zoos and with the use of media in the communication conservation of these
non–charismatic species for generations to

Keystone Species Research Paper
A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without a keystone species,
the ecosystem will either cease to exist or dramatically change. If a keystone species were to
disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche. This means
that keystone species have low functional redundancy. This forces an ecosystem to radically change.
This may allow new invasive species to populate the habitat. Keystone species can range from
plants to fungi. They are usually not the most abundant species in the ecosystem. The way these
animals impact the food web varies from habitat to habitat. Keystone species are usually a predator.
An example of a keystone species is the gray wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
Elk, bison, rabbit, and bird population at GYE are ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The "armor" consist of embedded bony plates called osteoderms. Their front legs have 5 toes, while
the back legs have 4 toes. Alligators have a long, rounded snout which has an upward facing nostril.
This is so they can breathe while the rest of their body is underwater. Adults have dark stripes on
their tail. Male alligators, larger than female alligators, can grow up to 11.2 feet. Female alligators
can grow up to 8.2 feet. The American alligators can be found in the US from North Carolina to
Texas. They usually hang around in freshwater areas. Alligators being carnivorous, have strong jaws
that can even crack a turtle shell. They eat fish, snails, birds, frogs, and mammals that come near the
edge of the water. Even though alligators do not hibernate, they go through a period of dormancy
when the weather turns cold. A depression called a gator hole is excavated along a waterway, this
provides protection during extreme weather. In areas where the water level fluctuates, they dig out
long tunnels into the mud which fills up with water. American alligators live about 50 years in the

Keystone Species
Some people underestimate the impacts on us and the world of one species. Of today 905 species
have gone extinct and 332 have gone extinct because of humans, making us responsible for over a
third of all known extinctions. Furthermore there are 41,415 species endangered and there are
multiple reasons why we should be trying to protect them. As of today many have acted up to this
problem, there are multiple organizations that protect and conserve wild life and some on one
species directly. As said earlier 41, 415 species are nearing or on the verge of existence, practically
speaking trying to save everyone one of them is impossible. We need to be able to put endangered
keystone species as our highest priority rather than putting our efforts into species with mainly ...
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A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem
functions. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist
altogether– National Geographic. A keystone species absence can cause a huge domino effect as
they can affect feeding patterns and shelter. The sea otter is a good example of a keystone species.
These mammals, found in the North West pacific, feed on sea urchins, controlling their population.
If the otters didn't eat the urchins, the urchins would eat up the kelp. Kelp, or giant seaweed, is a
major source of food and shelter for the ecosystem. Some species of crabs, snails, and geese depend
on kelp for food. Many types of fish use the huge kelp forests to hide from predators. Without sea
otters to control the urchin population, the entire ecosystem would collapse. Sea otters are just one
almost any kind of species can be keystone species. Most plants extinction, according to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Services, can lead to the loss of up to 30 other insect, plant, and other animal
species extinction. Overall keystone species have a huge impact on every

Endangered Species Of The Species
Endangered Species
More than 10 million species are yet to be discovered in the world, many of which are found in the
deepest parts of the ocean, some, too small to see without a microscope. Some of these species are
endangered due to the rate at which their habitats are being destroyed, many of the discovered
species that are not endangered are to be endangered soon due to the previously stated reason.
(Endangered Species International) Species in the world are being endangered in more than one way
including: habitat destruction, moving a species into a new habitat, and abusing the use of the
species. The species of the world are a great part of everyday life; they give humans the basic needs
to survive and also provide other species with their needs to survive.("Endangered Species") Species
are endangered in many ways and there are many organizations working to make the world safe
from extinction.
Some people are confused about what an endangered animal is. As said by Environment Advisor,
"endangered species are those considered to be at risk of extinction, meaning that there are so few
left of their kind that they could disappear from the planet altogether." ("Endangered Species")
There are many endangered species across the world that need the attention of people that are
willing to help them from going extinct. Some people, however, think that saving the endangered
species is a waste of time. These people choose to believe in natural selection. Natural Selection

Endangered Species
Many species vital to ensuring that today's environment will thrive are becoming extinct. If a
species is slowly dwindling, and in imminent danger of becoming nonexistent, this species is
considered to be endangered. "One in four mammals, one in eight birds, one third of all amphibians
and 70% of the world's assessed plants on the... IUCN Red List are in jeopardy" (IUCN, 2016).
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, upwards of 16,000
species are threatened with extinction, including both plants and animals (IUCN, 2016). Before
becoming endangered, a species will show warning signs, either by starting to lose biological
diversity or by losing the habitats for that species to flourish in, or in the worst case, both. The word
endangered can sometimes be confused with threatened, extirpated, or extinct. Extirpated refers to
the state of a species where its population has died out in a certain area or range, but other
populations of said species still exist elsewhere (Olden, Julian D., 2008). When a species is
considered threatened, or vulnerable, this refers to the state of the species being susceptible to
endangerment and extinction ("Extinction crisis escalates"). So if a species is threatened, the first
signs of endangerment come along, which are similar signs to that of a species in danger of
becoming threatened, including lack of genetic diversity, or overhunting may be evident.
("Extinction crisis escalates"). When a species is labelled

Keystone species
Biodiversity loss is becoming more and more popular in urban populated areas because of land use,
pollution and other man made environmental problems, our environment is stable to support all
types of life. but over the past years of us damaging the land along with soil degradation is having
major environmental issues with habitat loss, these animals that were meant to survive in that type
of ecosystem is either dying out or is forced to find a new habitat that's sometime isn't suited for
them. The Keystone species is a species that may be small or large either way it has an effect on its
environment this organism plays a role in its ecosystem and as the name implies Keystone species

Keystone Species
Keystone species are species that have a big role in the ecosystem's structure and have an effect on
other organisms within the ecosystem. Ecosystems depend greatly on food chains, if a species is
removed from that chain, the entire system will unbalance (www.dictionary.com, 2018). This
species could be any type of life form, but they all have a common effect on their environment that
is always is always greater than expected. As the name itself indicates, keystone species play a key
role in their ecosystems (En.wikipedia.org, 2018). There are many types of keystone species mainly
predators because they regulate the population of their prey. For example, the elimination of tigers
would lead to a great increase in the population of deer ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Instead of putting all the tigers in a breeding facility or in a cage, some have been left in the wild in
Bukit Tigapuluh. This ecosystem is the largest remaining lowland forest in Sumatra. Camera traps
have been set in their habitat to keep an eye on the tiger population. There have been 30 Sumatran
tigers recorded in the Bukit Tigapuluh forest

Surviving Species Environments
When you think of survival of the fittest, you may be wrong. If you think about it as more of
survival of the best adapted to a species environment. Now this can be used with a few following
examples; a species will not be able to survive if it is the strongest of its kind if the area it lives in is
cold. The specimen with the warm fur coat will outlast the physically strong. Now this can work the
other way as well the specimen with the fur coat may not be able to defend its self from the
predators if it is not the most physically fit specimen. The end result if the species does not adapt to
the new surroundings it will eventually die out and become extinct, leaving the one specimen who
has now passed on the fur coat to survive in the cold

Essay On Amphibian Species
Britain is home to seven native amphibian species. Three newt species: great crested newt (Triturus
cristatus), smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus), two frog
species: common frog (Rana temporaria), northern pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae) and two toad
species: common toad (Bufo bufo) and natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita). The northern pool frog is
only found at reintroduction sites in England whilst the others are found in England, Scotland and
Wales (Baker, et al. 2011).
All of the UK amphibian species are globally listed as least concern on the IUCN red list but have
seen declines within the country (Buckley & Beebee, 2004). Of the species in the UK, the natterjack
toad, common toad, and great ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As well as habitat loss, UK amphibian species suffer from disease and invasive species. Chytrid has
been documented in all seven UK species however the impact of this pathogen is currently not
understood (Cunningham & Minting, 2008). The Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) and
marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus) are considered to be of medium concern whilst the alpine newt
(Icthyosaura alpestris) is considered to be of high concern, all due to the risk of competition,
hybridization and disease, especially chytrid in alpine newts (Fisher & Garner, 2011).
In the UK there are three amphibian species listed as European Protected Species under schedule 2
of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010); the great crested newt, the
natterjack toad and the northern pool frog. Under these regulations it is an offence to: kill, disturb,
capture, possess, injure of trade individuals (at any life stage), or to damage or destroy the places
they use for breeding (JNCC, 2010).
Great crested newts are also covered by Annex II of the Habitats directive. This gives member states
of the European Union the ability to designate suitable habitat as Special Areas of Concern (SAC).
Under this same act, member states also have the ability to designate sites as Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI), these tend to be habitats with either exceptional numbers of great crested
newts or a large variety of more prevalent species

Invasive Species Ecosystems
I. Issue Invasive species are a threat. They destroy ecosystems in a matter of months. They drive out
the native species. They even have an enormous effect on our economies. These "aliens" can be
found nearly everywhere, both on land and sea. They are mainly introduced by human means.
Invasive species are mostly introduced into an ecosystem as a quick solution for ecological issues,
but can also be unintentionally introduced.
The main issue is the carp invasion in the Mississippi River. The carp are spreading rapidly
northward the Great Lakes. If not dealt with promptly, the carp can and will destroy the Great Lakes
ecosystem and Michigan's $7 billion fishing industry.
Silver and Asian carp are the main threat. They were first introduced ... Show more content on
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Illinois is where the dam would be built if approved, but Illinois state legislature is refusing to build
the dam. Their concern is the alteration of the water flow and access to the river. They feel that the
dam would decrease overall revenue in Illinois and surrounding states and that the flow of water
would be altered, resulting in damage to surrounding ecosystems and economies. Michigan and
Minnesota state governments have been pressuring Illinois to build the dam in hopes of halting the
spread of the carp. Kim Fleming also stated that, "When looking at these types of issues, it always
comes down to money... When you're a governor or you're a state representative... you are looking at
[the ecological] issues in part, but the main thing is money. If you change... access to water, you start
to change a lot. [There] are things like industry that depend on that water, or shipping. When you
start to block stuff off... you start to affect the midwestern states' access to that water." (Fleming

The Importance Of Species Diversity
Introduction A key component of any ecosystem on Earth is the presence of plants. Within these
plants, variation and diversity are abundant. Plants can vary in many characteristics, such as leaf
structure, height, bark structure, and diameter at breast height. The culmination of this variety
among plants is termed the biodiversity of plants, which encompasses three realms: species
diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Species diversity pertains to the variety of
species in a specific ecosystem. Genetic diversity refers to variation in specific traits among
individuals of the same species. Finally, ecosystem diversity refers to the variation of ecosystems in
a specific area. For purposes of this study, we will only focus on species diversity. Studying species
diversity of plants entails measuring the amount and size of different species in a given area. The
importance of this type of study stretches far beyond observation and results. Species diversity
among plants in an ecosystem is vital to the sustainability of that ecosystem. An ecosystem with
greater species diversity uses its resources more efficiently, making it more productive. In addition,
greater plant diversity leads to greater community biomass due to reduced nutrient loss and
increased carbon reserves (Tilman and Lehman, 1997). Our study primarily focuses on the species
diversity of trees at the Case Western Reserve University farm. More specifically, the area of interest
is the wooded area to

Invasive Species Threatens The Ecosystem
Invasive Species Threatens the Ecosystem Every life form all over the world depends on the
ecosystem for its survival. However, the ecosystem can be threatened when there is an excess or
drop in resources. Many people will argue that human beings are the primary cause of this economic
imbalance but are people the root of this problem? No. There is evidence that invasive species all
over the country has also threatened our ecosystem. Invasive species are any living organism such a
plants, fungus, insects, and fish just to name a few. Invasive species pose a threat to wildlife in many
ways. ("National Wildlife Federation," 2009) states species brought into an atmosphere that doesn't
have any predators are considered dangerous. They often breed and spread rapidly, assuming control
over a region. Local untamed life has no advanced safeguards against the trespasser, and they stand
no chance against species that has no predators (p.2). Furthermore, these species invade areas that
they aren't indigenous to and reproduce quickly. To further understand the underlying crux of
invasive species and how this matter may come to fruition, I will provide an analogy of an article
that addresses this problem, by summarizing and identifying the negative impact invasive species
have on the ecosystem. Today, some may say that human beings are the reason invasive species
prevail. According to Bright (1999), Obtrusive species are being transported through the worldwide

Florida Panther Species
Introduction:
This lab report focus on the risk of extinction of the panther species of Florida due to habitat loss
(urbanization), collisions road kill, intolerance and poor genetic diversity have been confined to this
animal to live in a small part of South Florida become one of the most endangered mammals on the
planet. About 160 cats remain in the wild. Therefore the objective of this report is to disseminate
knowledge regarding the extinction of native species by identifying the mortality, its causes, area of
action, level of ecosystem and possible solutions to prevent their extinction
Analysis:
The existence of the Florida panther is threatened by extinction processes because their current
habitat is simply too small and fragmented for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, limiting their territory resulting in a conflict that raises the rate of mortality of the specie
which is called intraspecific aggression. Another factors affecting the density are the environmental
changes on lands due to fragmentation and destruction of their natural habitats causes by humans in
our ambition to expand our needs (development of new cities, roads, houses, etc.) so that way we
contribute to the extinction and limited growth of the specie. In the other hand, density independent
factors affecting panther's population are diseases, viral infections, and feline leukemia, so in order
to stop or reduce this mortality fatalities. Government agencies must take actions and intervene to
ensure the panthers habitats without risking or damage natural reservations which protect
endangered animals. Panthers in its vast territorial expansion throughout the southeast have
occupied the top of the food chain, however, the decline of their species have caused other non–
native predators animals have moved into the open niche. Carnivores like the Coyotes currently
compete for the same prey and occupy the same hunting grounds and reproduction sites
marginalizing and limiting them to thrive.
Conclusion: As human beings, we are in the capacity to prevent and avoid the extinction of the
Florida panther, in first place we should continue increase protection on critical lands and habitat, so
that way we can provide with a safe place to roam extending their range beyond the confines of their
current territory. Another thing cause's decrease in the population is due vehicular accidents, we
should develop fences or underpasses so that way we can prevent panthers getting hit by any

Australian Species Informative Essay
Informative Essay #2 – Australian Species
By: Shadoe Lass
Charles Darwin stated that life was a game of survival of the fittest and species are constantly
evolving. A clear example of this phenomenon is the ecologically secluded continent of Australia.
Australia is home to many bizarre species, both native and introduced, that are found nowhere else
on Earth. The question arises that, in the one–of–a–kind environment they live in, how did they
come to be fit as species to survive and thrive. These native and introduced species have adapted to
life through a series of biological adaptations as well as infiltration of the Australian food web. The
first line of adaptation to life in Australia is biological adaptations of diet and lifestyle. ... Show
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Thus far, the advantages and adaptations discussed have been primarily of native Australian species.
However, a specific advantage evident in non–native species is the way they insert themselves into
the food web. Introduced species disrupt the balance of the food web in a variety of ways. One way
is direct competition, directly increasing the pressure on other native species by competing for the
same food supply. This is when survival of the fittest really comes into play. Survival of the fittest
does limit both competing species, albeit there are times when the sheer population overwhelms that
evolutionary mechanism. "...So many rabbits loose in Australia that even though about two million
were shot or trapped each year, it didn't make a dent in their population. Over time, the rabbits have
caused untold damage..." (Semmler, para. 2). Rabbits took over their ecosystem and managed to stay
put as part of the food web because of the size of their population. Introduced species can also
wreak havoc by being defensive predators themselves. They can bring toxins and poisons into the
ecosystem that their prey and predators alike can't combat. "The [cane] toads are toxic, and native
predators have no immunity to the poison," (Semmler, para. 5). This makes them a keystone species
(a species that has an impact with a size that doesn't correlate to its population size). They affect
large amounts of the ecosystem and food web, even while not having as large a population as other
species that are

Interbreed Biological Species
The biological species concept is defined, as species that are groups of interbreeding natural
populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups. Species of the similar
classification can mate and reproduce with each other but not with distinctive species. Although
there is species that look relatively the same that does not define how species interbreed with each
other. For example, an alligator and a crocodile look the same but are not classified as the same
species therefore they wouldn't be able to interbreed. Even though both of these reptiles are from the
same group crocodilian and coexist they still don't interbreed. The reason why is because these two
reptiles have a different genetic make–up that wont let them reproduce.

Identifying Invasive Species
The ability of biology students and biologists in general to identify species in the wild is important,
and especially crucial concerning the specific organisms that they research. It is essential to the
success of biological research that biologists they can correctly identify the organisms which they
are studying. Improper identification of species in the wild by a biologist could result in incorrect
data, misuse of public funds, or a misunderstanding of the trophic structure of an ecosystem,
potentially derailing conservation efforts. Biologists are at the core of biological conservation
efforts, and having well–trained researchers is imperative. Respected biologists are immensely
knowledgeable about their subject matter, including species ... Show more content on
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To begin with, personal safety is an important reason for species identification. People should be
able to identify species in their environment that could be potentially harmful, such as poison ivy or
a venomous snake species. Additionally, citizens that are able to identify certain invasive species
that threaten the local ecosystem could be hugely beneficial to conservation. Informed citizens could
be help in the effort to slow or prevent the spread of invasive species, potentially reducing the
severity of ecosystem degradation that alien invaders can inflict. Oppositely, uninformed citizens
that have little understanding of the surrounding ecosystem and its species can unintentionally cause
enormous problems in their environments. Introduced, invasive, and threatened species all have
unique relationships with their respective environments, and the average citizen may not understand
that the consequences of their actions could greatly disrupt ecosystem structure. Beyond species
identification, the success of conservation relies on people's perception of nature. Educating people
about species and their habitats would improve public understanding and appreciation of ecosystem
importance and function. A community that is engaged with the natural world is more likely to
support conservation programs and agree that the natural environment is worth studying and
protecting. Furthermore, instilling

Invasive Species
In 1996, the Asian Longhorn Beetle made its way into the New York and New Jersey creating the
decimation of the forests. The Asian Longhorn Beetle has so far caused the cutting of over 10,000
trees in New Jersey, and quarantine of 109 miles in New York today . The spread of this foreign
beetle has created great impacts on the environment. The Asian Longhorn Beetle is an invasive
specie, a harmful specie from another locations, mainly other countries, that has ended up in a
foreign habitat. As time has progressed, invasive species have continued to come into our
environment more frequently creating many unforeseen consequences. The relationship of invasive
species within the United States' environment and ecosystem has been changing ever ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Before the crisis of invasive species destroying the environment, it was normal for people to dump
invasive species into lakes, streams, and rivers, but in today's society, releasing and bringing
invasive species into the environment has come to a near existent halt.
When the Welland Canal was built in 1829, it created more connecting routes between the Great
Lakes. In addition, it allowed larger boats to make their way upstream into the lakes when
previously, only smaller, local boats were able to travel in the small rivers and streams. Allowing the
larger boat meant that it would speed up the process of invasive species being brought into the great
lakes. On top of that, this was greatly increased by the lack of cleaning of the canals which allowed
many boats to get from one lake to the next without being hosed down allowing species to survive
and flourish. One of these many species was well–known aquatic weed called Curly Pondweed. It
was brought into the Great Lakes in 1879 and quickly spread, growing until it was so overabundant
that the sunlight was blocked from entering the water. The lack of sunlight caused many fish and
other aquatic organisms to die due to the lack of oxygen. This lack of oxygen created a vacuum that
destroyed the majority of the organisms in the lake only allowing the few that were able to survive
with very little oxygen. The Curly Pondweed was one of the organisms that destroyed the Great

Species Boundaries
Within the study of evolution, the concept of a species and the mechanisms that create and maintain
species boundaries are very important. In order to understand the fossil record and how a species
can split into two or more separate species, researches must first define what they consider a species
to be. There are two main competing theories about species, the biological species concept (BSC)
and the ecological species concept (ESC). The biological species concept states that gene flow is the
key to keeping groups cohesive and isolated. A species is considered to be a group of interbreeding
organisms that are reproductively isolated from other groups of organisms. Therefore, members of
each distinct group cannot mate successfully with other groups. Gene flow is what ... Show more
Also, some species remain the same with out gene flow between groups (Boyd and Silk 2000:97–
99, Ridley 1993:393).
Natural selection acts as reinforcement to prevent dissimilar groups from producing hybrid species.
Since hybrids are less fit, selection favors behavioral and morphological adaptations that prevent
mating between groups. Reinforcement acts to reduce gene flow between groups in order to reduce
the number of unfit offspring which reproductively isolates species to the point where they cannot
interbreed at all. In the case of mules, who are hybrids of horses and donkeys, they are not less
capable of competition with other animals, but they are less fit because they are unable to reproduce
and get their genes into the next generation (Boyd and
Silk 2000:103, Ridley 1993:394).
In actuality, these two species concepts are not very distinct and neither is more valid or useful. Both
theories can explain the mechanisms that cause different species to arise and remain distinct. If
populations are not being selected upon, then gene flow is the mechanism keeping them separate. If
selection is very strong, then it is probably the factor that is isolating

Discontinuous Species Criticisms
Nature is very much discontinuous, but natural selection acts in a continuous manner, so the hard
part is finding out how nature is filled with these discrete and discontinuous groups called species.
The common criticism is that the inability to observe the formation of the new species means natural
selection is causing it, and the species never actually form, but as Coyne says, "...it's like saying that
because we haven't seen a single star go through its complete life cycle, stars don't evolve, or
because we haven't see a new language arise, languages don't evolve" (183). Just because we aren't
seeing the new species form right away, it doesn't mean it isn't happening. As stated before, it can
take a lot time for a new species to form. The three–step process for speciation to occur includes: the
initial step of geographical ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some pre–zygotic isolating mechanisms include: temporal, ecological, behavioral, and mechanical.
Temporal isolating mechanisms include the time at which species mate during the year can affect the
possibility of two species mating together. Ecological isolating mechanisms include the habitat in
which the species is living in. Behavioral isolating mechanisms include the mating behaviors of
species and how they are able to find mate. An example includes male birds having specific songs
they sing to find females. Mechanical isolating mechanisms include the way in which a species will
mate, including the genitalia. Post–zygotic isolating mechanisms include: hybrid inviability, hybrid
infertility, and hybrid breakdown. Hybrid inviability happens when the hybrid is produced but
cannot develop and eventually dies. Hybrid infertility occurs when the hybrid develops, but is
unable to reproduce because it is sterile. Hybrid breakdown occurs when the hybrids in the first
generation are able to reproduce but the hybrids in the second generation are unable to develop and

Although the resources available for maintaining healthy ecosystems are limited, it is very important
to focus conservation efforts on keystone species. These species significantly shape their ecosystem
through helping keep all parts of the ecosystem in balance, affecting the population levels of other
species, and are crucial for their role in stabilizing their ecosystems. When a keystone species
disappears from an ecosystem, species in the lower trophies levels of the ecosystem may become
overly abundant as the main predator doesn't keep their numbers "in check" or species from the
higher trophic levels suffer as their favourite prey disappears. However, the importance of
conserving these species changes when other species are endangered. This is because endangered
species are at risk of extinction and like keystones their role in their ecosystems need to be fulfilled.
If they reach extinction, their species will be ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Beavers build dams in water to protect themselves and through flooding the land they create ponds
where other food sources such as water lilies grow, and beavers can more easily evade predators.
Through their actions that hurt farmers and turbines, they are improving their ecosystem and
completing their role as keystone animals. Some provinces have enacted bounties to control beaver
populations which is unfair as the beavers are contributing to the environment in a positive way
while causing the economy money. If humans kill off beavers their ecosystem will experience major
declines, as well as ours. Farmers do suffer greatly as a result of the beavers, but because of them we
get ponds and environments for succulent vegetation. Without them the soil would not be fertile
enough for farming. Also, humans need hydroelectric turbines,

Invasive Species
AEC 3065: Invasive Species–Citrus Greening
Paragraph 1: The Issue
Invasive species devastate the agricultural community. Specifically, for the state of Florida, citrus
greening has been destructive in the growing, production, and harvesting of the citrus industry. On
average, invasive species across our country costs the US $137 billion and Florida's agriculture
industry alone $200 million annually. The importance of this issue is the invasive species, Asian
citrus psyllid, has no cure and it's been found in every country in Florida that has citrus production.
Once the invasive species injects the leaves with their toxin, you can't save the tree. This disease,
which has been in Florida since 2005, has tremendously affected the high level ... Show more
There were multiple reliable videos we watched during this study that deemed this as accurate. The
videos and notes provided financial statistics, production statistics, and pictures of how the invasive
species disrupts a large–part of the Florida agricultural industry. In 2016, the state of Florida's citrus
growers claimed about 80% of their trees were infected with the disease, taking a massive toll in
citrus production that year. According to a new ABC News report, citrus production has significantly
decreased from 242 million boxes in 2004, to 2016, where the industry only produced 72 million
boxes. I believe we saw a ton of loaded language within this case study through videos and the
notes. There were a lot of words with strong emotional implications that helped describe the severity
of this issue and how important it is for our researchers to find a cure. We saw one product of how to
short–term fix this issue with the indoor growing facilities, but I would have liked to have seen
another idea or two on how they're resolving this issue. I also would have liked to seen which other
products in this country are infected by the Asian citrus

Invasive Species Invasive Species
An organism that is non–native to an ecosystem can be defined as an "invasive" species. Animals,
plants, and fungi can all be considered invasive, exotic, or alien species if they are not originally
from that habitat. "These intruders alter the pathways of native organisms by competitive exclusion,
niche displacement, hybridization, introgression predation, and in severe cases extinction" (Mooney
2001). Invasive species can severely and adversely affect populations of native species. Foreign
organisms can be studied around the globe and dedicated ecologists have the responsibility of
studying how these non–native species are impacting ecosystems. There are many ways that a
species may become introduced into a new ecosystem. Human activity has long played a role in the
translocation of many types of plants and animals. Throughout time humans have transported
species across land, sea, and sky for recreational purposes, medicinal purposes, and aesthetic
purposes. Though the human species is largely responsible for species translocation, we are not the
only cause. Abiotic forces like the wind and sea play a large role in transporting various organisms
and seeds to new and far lands. Not all introduced species are bad and some have proven to be quite
beneficial to new ecosystems. Though there are beneficial introduced species, more tend to hurt
existing ecosystems rather than help it. "When introduced species exploit a specific species trait or
fill a vacant niche in an

Endangered Species
David Perez
Mrs.Ashley
English 3
September 20, 2017
Why should we protect endangered species.? Imagine a world without animals? Would it be a better
world or a worst one? Every day as humans evolve we hurt the planet. Humans have killed over
1000 species according to national geographic. The human race will eventually kill every single
species on earth including themselves if the humans don't change their ways of living by protecting
species that are endangered. Endangered species more important than we think, they have ecological
value which is important because if they go extinct then the whole food chain would be a disaster
and would fall. Also protecting endangered species can help with biodiversity which we can benefit
from. If endangered species aren't completely wiped out then we can use them for more medical
research.All species have an important role in this world,some can benefit from others even from the
simpletest things. Everyone and everything on this earth live a life for a certain purpose, Don't kill
anymore endangered animals and help protect them because in the end it will all be worth it. There
is a game called Jenga and in the game if you get rid of a good piece that holds the tower then the
whole tower falls, this is the same with animals because if removing one animal or plant species
from the ecosystem it will affect the life other organisms that interact with it and then the the chain
would change or would crumble down. According to Scientific

Lionfish: Aquatic Marine Species
Pterois volitans and Pterois miles, more commonly known as lionfish, are aquatic marine species
native to the Indo–Pacific region (Carberry, 2014; Cote, Green, & Hixon, 2013; Hackerott et al.,
2013; Kulbicki et al., 2012; Morell, 2010). Introduced to Florida in 1985, lionfish soon spread as an
invasive species throughout the southeastern coasts of the United States and the Caribbean (Albins,
2015; Arias–Gonzalez, Gonzalez–Gandara, Cabrera, & Christensen, 2011; Bejarano, Lohr,
Hamilton, & Manfrino, 2015; Carberry, 2014; Cote et al., 2013; S. Green, 2014; S. J. Green, Akins,
Maljkovic, & Cote, 2012; Jud, Nichols, & Layman, 2015; Morell, 2010; Raymond, Albins, &
Pusack, 2015; Ruiz–Carus, Matheson, Roberts, & Whitfield, 2006). Lionfish populations have
grown exponentially in these coral reef ecosystems (Albins & Hixon, 2013; Arias–Gonzalez et al.,
2011; Bayraktarov, Alarcon–Moscoso, Polanco, & Wild, 2014; Cote et al., 2013; Edwards, Frazer, &
Jacoby, 2014; S. J. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This information is incredibly alarming as lionfish are a generalist species, consume a great variety
of prey, lack predators and disease in their invaded range, as well as possess venomous spines
(Albins, 2015; Albins & Hixon, 2013; Bayraktarov et al., 2014; Bejarano et al., 2015; Carberry,
2014; Cote et al., 2013; Cure, McIlwain, & Hixon, 2014; Edwards et al., 2014; S. Green, 2014; Jud
et al., 2015; Valdivia, Bruno, Cox, Hackerott, & Green, 2014). These factors strongly suggest
lionfish have the potential to degrade coral reef habitat and water quality, decrease biodiversity,
deplete economically important fish stocks, and decrease tourism (Albins & Hixon, 2013; Cure et
al., 2014; Morell, 2010; Ruiz–Carus et al., 2006; Valdivia et al.,

I think that the changes will affect all of the plants and animals in an ecosystem.
In this essay I will be talking about how it affects keystone species which is (a species on which
other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would
change drastically)also how biodiversity plays a role in changing the ecosystem.also how there
could be symbiotic relationships and trophic cascades also predator prey relationships that could
also affect plants and animals in a ecosystem. Humans can change the ecosystem and the living and
nonliving things in the ecosystem.
However we watched some videos that will help us understand more about the changes in the
ecosystem. Also Humans can change the ecosystem

Animal Species Research Paper
The advancement of human civilization and technology is a wonder and has been compounding at
an exponential rate. We have been able to convert raw materials from the Earth to make our lives
better with cars, computers, houses, etc. However the more our civilization evolves and humans
occupy the Earth, the more animal species have been disappearing. The way we live affects animal
species more than one may think. We affect them when we do things that change the climate,
irresponsibly dispose of waste, and steal their habitats and homes. The Earth has already lost half of
its wildlife in the last one hundred years and there is much more predicted to be lost in just the next
10 years. There is much to more to lose when these species goes extinct. Their existences is
important to the ecosystems they may ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
On the other hand, we have 'Indirect attention' where our fascination causes us to concentrate
without as much effort, which allows for our brain to be restored so we can come back to that direct
attention (Curtin 2009). This theory could be related to the reason why when people are trying to get
away from the stresses of daily life, travel to different places where wildlife is and are willing to
spend so much time and money just to do so. Ecotourism is a good solution to fulfill our desire to be
with nature and animals, it also helps support conservational efforts by allowing humans to learn
more about the animals and funding the costs that come with conservation. In a study conducted by
Curtin, it was revealed that psychological benefits can arise from wildlife tourism. Analyses of the
interviews conducted in Curtin's study found out what psychological benefits can come from
watching wildlife and the answers they got were "wonderment and awe beyond articulation, time to
stand and

Charles Darwin's On The Origin Of Species
Darwin also proposed a group of organisms share common descent if they have a common ancestor.
There is strong quantitative support for the theory that all living organisms on Earth are descended
from a common ancestor.Charles Darwin proposed the theory of universal common descent through
an evolutionary process in On the Origin of Species, twice stating the hypothesis that there was only
one ancestor for all life forms and ending with "There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its
several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one". The theory asserts
that all currently living organisms on Earth share a common genetic heritage with each being the
descendant from a single original species. His work shows many

Endangered Species Of The Species
Endangered Species
By: Breanna Blansette
Do you know how many endangered species there are in this world today? There are many things
that people can do to help save endangered species from becoming extinct. "Mining companies, oil
companies, and large–scale agricultural operations all threaten vulnerable species to a certain
degree, by nature of their extractive activities, and development of previously untouched areas of
land."(Whittaker). Many different species are becoming endangered because of the things that are
going on around them, their habitats are being destroyed so they don 't have anywhere to go to be
safe
There are many different species of animals that are becoming endangered or extinct, some of which
are the Sage Grouse. "At least 200 protests have been filed against the federal plans to help try and
save the endangered species of Sage Grouse, from every direction. The Western Energy Alliance
says oil and gas development is unduly restricted." (Peterson) Some states complain that they people
have way too much say in trying to decide what happens to these birds and others think they don't
have a good enough opinion. I think people should be able to state their ideas and thoughts but I
don't think they should be able to decide what gets to happen to that species of animal.
Why are Sage Grouse so important to the world's ecosystem today? "This sensitivity makes greater
sage grouse a strong indicator of ecosystem health: If they 're not thriving across the vast

The Biological Species Of Maggot Flies
1.
The species concept that should be primarily used in this case is the biological species concept.
Considering the fact that the two different races of maggot flies have the capabilities and ultimately
the potential to interbreed with one another to produce a fertile offspring, but can't effectively
interbreed with other species leads me to come to this conclusion.
2.
Hawthorn maggot flies and apple maggot flies are not distinct as a species. The two races differ
genetically and are physically indistinguishable. There is no geographical isolation or physical
separation between adult maggot flies as a whole. Hawthorn and apple flies are assigned to the same
taxonomic species. Apple maggot flies desire to mate and lay their eggs in apples,

Fossils: The Evolution Of Human Species
Throughout time human species have evolved. It all started seven million years ago. Many different
kinds of ancient humans have roamed Earth. The first species were discovered in Africa and later in
Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Paleoanthropologists, geologists, anatomists, and
paleoecologists determined when and where new species evolved by analyzing hominid fossils.
They can also tell us how species lived and died, which other species they are related to, what was
the climate like, and the plants and animals people relied on. Analyzing fossils is a difficult task.
Fossils are the most important resources for scientists when it comes to researching about prehistoric
life. Their information can educate society about their past. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This variation comes from recombination, meaning DNA changes when chromosomes shuffle, or
recombine. This normally occurs in the process of making a sperm or an egg. As a result the child or
offspring inherits a unique characteristics from each parent. This can also be a bad thing if the parent
has a medical condition, such as being color blind, which increases the chances of the child
inheriting the same condition.
Mutation can also be a factor explaining why we look slightly different from each other. This can
occur at anytime affecting your DNA. Some mutations affect the visible feature of the individual,
while others can create a resistance to a virus, such as HIV. Depending on the environment mutation
can be a good or bad thing. Humans received information by communicating with each other.
Before they spoke to each other with words, they communicated with gestures and "body language"
in addition to simple sounds. Language probably started with individual words. Linking words into
sentences probably came next. Humans were believed to use music–like phrases similar to the way
parents talk to babies before language was

The Importance Of Invasive Species
In the case of a home invasion, people suggest to have a "safe room" where your whole family can
hide in which there is a telephone to call the police. Unfortunately, not all living creatures have
access to things other than themselves to protect them.
An invasive species is defined as an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new
environment where it is not native. Whether it be animals or even plants, they exist and will be here
to stay if we don't do anything about it. What we should be doing is actually eating the invasive
species which are hard to manage because if we don't do anything about it now, there may be no
stop to them. In addition to this, there are other reasons that we should eat them such as the fact that
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But honestly if you go around life thinking that everything's gonna fix itself somehow that's not
good. Most of these invasive species are there in the first place because of humans abandoning them
in the wild.
Not only are these creatures harmful to the environment, their effects on the world take a toll on
humans too. That's surprising. Lionfish are wiping out several species in the US including cod and
snapper which are served here in Japan too. Another source of food for humans would be gone.
Another example is the Wild boar which roam free in all parts of the US are destroying wetlands and
and crop fields which caused an estimated $52 million in Texas alone every year.
So what can you do? Well, next time you go to a seafood restaurant, see if they have lionfish,
apparently the lionfish nachos are good! Or maybe you visit a French restaurant and try some Wild
Boar which I have actually tried and guys, it's ribs. For all you vegetarians, don't worry, remember
that japanese knotweed I talked about? Guess what. It's literally bamboo. I guess what I'm trying to
say in the end is that, "If you can't beat em', eat

Many Species of the Mammoth
There were many different species of the Mammoth. Examples include Mammuthus meridonalis
(Southern Mammoth), Mammuthus primigenius (Woolly Mammoth), etc. (Brooks, 2008).
Mammoths are best described as bigger, modern–day elephants covered in a thick coat of fur and are
symbolic of the ice age. This is due to their large size, their vast population of the North and South
Pole, and their ability to adapt to extremely cold temperatures (Douglas, 2013). Some ways these
mammals managed to survive in their environments were that their coats consisted of long, dark
guard hairs and fine under wool allowing them to stay warm; the thick insulating layer of fat that
was found underneath their coats and that their cheek teeth were large and made up of compressed
enamel plates that were great for grinding up the tough dry grasses that they fed on. It is estimated
that the earliest an elephant–like animal lived was 58 million years ago. Mammoths first lived in
Europe and Asia about 2.5 million years ago and entered North America about 1.7 to 1.2 million
years ago (Brooks, 2008). The last living Mammoth is approximated to be as recent as 3700 years
ago. However, due to the rapidly changing environment and the increased human predation of these
species, there was a significant drop off in the population of Mammoths 11,000 years ago (Douglas,
2013). Research on some of the social aspects of Mammoths showed that they often travelled in
herds, where the adult Mammoths were very protective of

Disadvantages Of Species Diversity
2. Species diversity:–
Species are the most important unit of association in natural balance in terms of gladly assessable
pasture entities as units of organismal evolution. Species diversity refers to the different types of
living organisms on the Earth. This includes the many types of birds, insects, plants, bacteria, fungi,
mammals and more. Many differing species often live to gather in communities depending on each
other to provide their needs. The study of species diversity is of necessity based primarily on
comparative and correlative research. The spatial area required to classify ecological community for
many organisms of interest (eg. tree plants, birds and most mammals) is merely too large (and too
difficult to define precisely) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This approach relies on the objectivity of the Phylogenetic species concept and applies in to the
particularly of the morphological species concept, in terms of shorting specimen in to groups.
(Kottelat, 1997) consequently, estimates of species diversity are used more often as the typical
measure of overall biodiversity of that area in particular. However, in practice it can be very difficult
to quantify the practical interactions flanked by the species within a population. Community
diversity is also useful to measure the genetic diversity and species richness also help to measure the
diversity and its conservation.
Biodiversity at its most basic level includes the full range of species on earth from micro– organisms
such as viruses, bacteria through the multi cellular kingdom of plants, animals and fungi. Thus, it
refers to the variety of species within a region. It measured on the basis of number of species in the
region. Species' richness varies geographically. Out of an estimation 30 million species on earth,
only one–sixth has been identified and authenticated in the past 200 years. Only 250,000 species of
the total stock are

Non Native Species Invasive Species
Native species are those that usually live a particular community. An invasive species is a non native
species that affects habitats and biodiversity. Native species normally live in a certain place on the
there hand invasive species can thrive any where and are long lived. Non native species aren't
always harmful but some can be harmful to the environment and to other species. An example of an
invasive species would be the Asian carp. When an Asian carp is introduced into a new environment
they are known to cause harm and feed off of native species. There are 4 types of Asian carp amd
they each do the same amount of damage to the environment. Some Asian carp eat plankton which
is food for native mussels and other fish but if the

Ring Species Evolution
Many geneticists believe that all current life stems from one common ancestor in a tree of life
fashion. Over millions of years, this process of speciation has created numerous kinds of creatures,
many of which we are still discovering today. For instance, a rare phenomenon, occuring only in
particular environments, was dubbed as a "ring species" by scientists Ernst Mayr and Theodosius
Dobzhansky and may help to create this great biodiversity (Pereira & Wake, 2015). When a species
becomes separated and can no longer interbreed, the gene flow between these two populations
discontinue, which leads to the development of two entirely different species (Martins & de Aguiar,
2017). Researchers have documented this extraordinary event, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
B. Martins, M. A. M. de Aguiar, and Y. Bar–Yam created a simulation to compare calculated
information to the actual evidence found from different greenish warbler forms. They discovered
that, while ring species may be volatile, they can occur for long lengths of time and often match
computed data from their model. Furthermore, they also questioned how each factor influenced the
growth and strength of a ring species. They determined that many elements, particularly the range of
species' area, species dependent traits, and geographical features, affect the overall stability and
efficiency of speciation (Martins, de Aguiar, and Bar–Yam, 2013). Multiple components having a
significant impact on ring species explains the unstable nature of these scenarios and their rarity.
Nonetheless, studying these less–than–ideal examples proves that speciation can transpire without
the adherence to strict conditions and also might insist that the definition of a ring species be
broadened to encompany more similar

Invasive Species
There are invaders coming to homes all over America. They are causing damage to entire
ecosystems and they can spread to new areas very rapidly if the issue is not dealt with now. These
invaders that are destroying our native plants and ecosystems are known as invasive species.
Invasive plant species are a problem all over the United States and many people fail to realize it.
These invaders can cause huge amounts of damage to native environments. More people need to be
made aware of the problem that is happening with these species. Education is the best way to get
people to realize the problem at hand and get involved in helping reduce the spread and prevent
further damage from being done. According to the United States National Arboretum, ... Show more
Garlic mustard was introduced into New Jersey in 1886 as a common garden plant. It is called this
because of its distinct garlic smell. Many people would use garlic mustard in their salad to give it a
tangy taste. Eventually, the seeds spread and caused problems in other environments where it was
introduced such as New England. Garlic mustard is still a problem in New England today. Garlic
mustard is not a problem because it destroys the native plants, but much like many invasive plants, it
deprives the native plant species of the needed light and space they need to grow. (Invasive Plant
Atlas of New

Evolutionary Distance Between Species
I like how Fuggle started of this chapter, "...species judged to be closely related using other lines of
evolutionary evidence should show more similarity in their DNA and constructed molecules than
species understood to be more distantly related.' ....the number or degree of differences in various
molecules among species should correlate with what has been previously proposed as the
evolutionary distance between species." He starts of with a scientifically proven hypothesis and then
defends the hypothesis using some examples that show evidence of relation in evolution. Just like
the chapters 12 and 13 supported evolutionary creation using fossils and cardiograms relations, this
chapter also discusses how the molecular makeup of living things

A keystone species is a species that has such a large impact on the ecosystem that without it other
species couldn't survive. A famous example of how keystone species affect the ecosystem can be the
influence that wolves have on Yellowstone's biodiversity. Without wolves, the ecologic balance in
the park would be compromised: their absence would result in the overpopulation of elk, which
causes a decrease of the vegetation to almost nothing. Canis lupus, also known as gray wolf, is the
largest member of its family: males weigh on average 43–45 kg and females 36–38.5kg. It lives in
Eurasia and North America and since it is a habitat generalist, it can be found in deserts, grasslands,
forests, and arctic tundras. The color of his fur can vary ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then in 1883, new laws were introduced to protect certain species; however, wolves, bears, coyotes
and other predators were not defended by those laws. Since the summer of 1886, the control of
predators was left to the park's administration and hunting of wildlife was prohibited. In 1914 the
first wolves got killed and by 1926 they were extirpated from the park. The first 14 wolves were
reintroduced during January 1995, and other 17 had been released in April 1996; these wolves were
captured respectively from Jasper National Park and Canada. No more wolves have been imported
into Yellowstone after 1996, since biologists believed that the 31 present ones would have
reproduced and prayed enough to maintain the biological

Keystone Species Essay

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