The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal
The keystone concept has been widely applied in the ecological literature since the idea was introduced in 1969. While it has been useful in framing biodiversity research and garnering support in conservation policy circles, the terminology surrounding the concept has been expanded to the extent tha...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Biogeography Society
2012-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers of Biogeography |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/15d2b65t |
| _version_ | 1818971347746816000 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert J. Whittaker Henry Eden W Cottee-Jones |
| author_facet | Robert J. Whittaker Henry Eden W Cottee-Jones |
| author_sort | Robert J. Whittaker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The keystone concept has been widely applied in the ecological literature since the idea was introduced in 1969. While it has been useful in framing biodiversity research and garnering support in conservation policy circles, the terminology surrounding the concept has been expanded to the extent that there is considerable confusion over what exactly a keystone species is. Several authors have argued that the term is too broadly applied, while others have pointed out the technical and theoretical limitations of the concept. Here, we chart the history of the keystone concept’s evolution and summarise the plethora of different terms and definitions currently in use. In reviewing these terms, we also analyse the value of the keystone concept and highlight some promising areas of recent work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:50:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ad1e528a67d4edd8d97ebe4d294b725 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1948-6596 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:50:56Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | International Biogeography Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers of Biogeography |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ad1e528a67d4edd8d97ebe4d294b7252022-12-21T19:36:56ZengInternational Biogeography SocietyFrontiers of Biogeography1948-65962012-09-0143The keystone species concept: a critical appraisalRobert J. WhittakerHenry Eden W Cottee-JonesThe keystone concept has been widely applied in the ecological literature since the idea was introduced in 1969. While it has been useful in framing biodiversity research and garnering support in conservation policy circles, the terminology surrounding the concept has been expanded to the extent that there is considerable confusion over what exactly a keystone species is. Several authors have argued that the term is too broadly applied, while others have pointed out the technical and theoretical limitations of the concept. Here, we chart the history of the keystone concept’s evolution and summarise the plethora of different terms and definitions currently in use. In reviewing these terms, we also analyse the value of the keystone concept and highlight some promising areas of recent work.http://escholarship.org/uc/item/15d2b65tcommunity compositionecosystem engineerdefinitionsdominant specieskeystone conceptkeystone species |
| spellingShingle | Robert J. Whittaker Henry Eden W Cottee-Jones The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal Frontiers of Biogeography community composition ecosystem engineer definitions dominant species keystone concept keystone species |
| title | The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal |
| title_full | The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal |
| title_fullStr | The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal |
| title_full_unstemmed | The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal |
| title_short | The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal |
| title_sort | keystone species concept a critical appraisal |
| topic | community composition ecosystem engineer definitions dominant species keystone concept keystone species |
| url | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/15d2b65t |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertjwhittaker thekeystonespeciesconceptacriticalappraisal AT henryedenwcotteejones thekeystonespeciesconceptacriticalappraisal AT robertjwhittaker keystonespeciesconceptacriticalappraisal AT henryedenwcotteejones keystonespeciesconceptacriticalappraisal |