Ashley Marie Berfield

Paine states that a keystone species is "one whose impacts on its community or ecosystem are large and greater than would be expected from its relative abundance or total biomass". When a keystone species population is removed then a drastic change in the community will be noteable. Paine mentions sea otters and starfish as examples of keystone species. Yes, it is true that humans are a keystone species. If humans were removed from the earth for some reason there would be some very drastic changes in the earth. However, to say that humans are the greatest keystone species is not a statement that should be proudly accepted. If humans are "the keystone" species they are because the have so much influence (much negative) on the ecosystem. Humans over populate the world, create so much trash, waste everything, destroy the ozone, barely attempt to conserve anything and etc. If humans are the keystone species we have a responsiblilty and that is to pay much more attention to conservation and the way we live. It is accurate to say that humans are the keystone species. However, that comes with great responsibility.