A keystone species is a species within an ecosystem that influences most all other species in that system. If a keystone species is removed from the system, the system will either collapse or the removal will cause a dramatic change in the species composition of the system. Use the link below to access the ISEE Exchange website to explore a systems model related to the removal of the wolves, a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park.
https://exchange.iseesystems.com/public/isee/wolves-and-trees/index.html#page1.
Click on the paw to open the model and read the background of the story. Next, explore the box-and-arrow type model of the effect of wolves on vegetation in Yellowstone National Park.
Summarize the cause-and-effect model in words, including the effect on other animals and ‘ecosystem’ or ‘land health’.
Next, explore the box-and-arrow model.
Finally, follow this link How Wolves Change Rivers to watch the following video provide by Sustainable Human for more talking points: