Linking Keystone Species and Functional Groups: A New Operational Definition of the Keystone Species Concept

Found at: https://hdl.handle.net/10535/2966
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Type:	Journal Article
Author:	Davic, Robert D.
Journal:	Ecology and Society
Volume:	7
Page(s):
Date:	2003
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/10535/2966
Sector:	Wildlife
Region:
Subject(s):	competition power diversity biomass
Abstract:	"The concept of the 'keystone species' is redefined to allow for the a priori prediction of these species within ecosystems. A keystone species is held to be a strongly interacting species whose top-down effect on species diversity and competition is large relative to its biomass dominance within a functional group. This operational definition links the community importance of keystone species to a specific ecosystem process, e.g., the regulation of species diversity, within functional groups at lower trophic levels that are structured by competition for a limited resource. The a priori prediction of keystone species has applied value for the conservation of natural areas."

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