Vital to Earth! Keystone Species Explained

Coastal fish swim through water cleaned by the tangled roots of a mangrove forest, crabs munch on mangrove leaves, and monkeys swing from branch to branch. When storms hit, the important plants block winds, waves, and even floods that might otherwise damage the life just inland. Mangrove trees are vital to their ecosystems, maintaining the habitats that are crucial to the life and breeding grounds of many coastal creatures. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how mangrove trees shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if the magnificent mangrove disappears. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.

Tiny, buzzing bees flit from flower to flower. All around, plants are in bloom and animals are munching away at juicy, ripe fruit thanks to the hard work of these important pollinators. Bees are vital to their ecosystems, helping ground complex food webs that feeds creatures big and small. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how bees shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if these buzzing bugs were to disappear. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.

A group of gray wolves silently stalks prey. Once the pack picks one of the older animals in a herd, the apex predators take it down with the speed and strength that no single animal would have been able to manage. All around them, plant life grows lush, healthy bison roam the land, and an eagle picks apart leftovers from the pack's last kill. Wolves are vital to their ecosystems, controlling the size of prey populations so all life can flourish. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how wolves shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if these powerful predators disappear. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.

Hundreds of prairie dogs pop out of holes scattered across a field of swaying grasses. They have made a complex web of tunnels below the surface of the grassland while above grazers, flying predators, and even little insects benefit from the healthy home prairie dogs helped create. Prairie dogs are vital to their grassland ecosystems, keeping the soil healthy so the rest of life in the environment can flourish. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how prairie dogs shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if these little diggers disappear. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.

Furry sea otters float through a kelp forest, munching on sea urchin snacks and dipping below the waves. All around them, the kelp forest is bursting with life-from fish and snails, to sea stars and crabs-that might not make it without the little otters. Sea Otters are vital to aquatic ecosystems, keeping the population of urchins in check so the kelp that houses so much life can flourish. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how sea otters shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if these hungry swimmers were to disappear. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.

Beavers scamper around their pond, cutting down trees, munching on bark, and using the remaining sticks to build up their dams and lodges. All around them, fish splash, insects fly, deer run, and birds land in a calm pool of water that had not been there before the beavers started building. Beavers are vital to wetland ecosystems, building a community of life and maintaining this complex environment. Uncover the truth about this important keystone species, explore how beavers shape entire ecosystems, and learn what's at risk if these busy builders disappear. Approachable text and engaging images bring this timely topic to life.