They're keystone species. That means they have an outsized impact on their ecosystem. It took humans driving some of these to near extinction to realize just how important they are.

While some plants like milkweed are singularly important for particular wildlife, keystone plants are essential for the survival of species diversity.

A new study identifies the cause of sea star wasting disease, offering hope the animals can come back and perhaps even help ...

For the last several months, Southern California has grappled with a bloom of harmful algae that produce domoic acid, killing or intoxicating thousands of marine animals. But this region isn't unique.

University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy's research has identified “keystone” plant species that make up the foundation of many U.S. ecosystems by producing food for native insects ...

Some of the plants focused on during this walk are also keystone species: important components in the lore, culture practices and survival of the Mechoopda people who inhabited this land for ...

A keystone is so important that if it were removed, the habitat might not be able to adapt to environmental changes. In the plant world, examples of keystone species include oak, maple, birch and ...

And now, a new policy from California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife calls beavers a “keystone species,” highlighting their important role in upkeeping ecosystems.

By selecting the right species for the right location, these keystone species can provide important ecosystem services for many years.