Evan B

To be considered a “keystone species” a species must be significantly crucial to the equilibrium of an ecosystem. As a result, these species have a dramatic effect on other species when they are “taken out of the equation.” It is hard to define how crucial a species must be in order to be considered a “keystone species” and as the article from University of Washington suggest, the boundaries of what constitutes such a species is growing wider and wider. Despite this, I believe that humans deserve to be designated the most pivotal or “greatest” of all keystone species because we seem to be capable of having the most direct effect and the most potent effect on the greatest number of species. Furthermore, we have an awareness of our magnitude and have the ability to limit or control the ways in which we effect the ecosystem. If humans were to be removed from the ecosystem the overall change in the ecosystem would be profound, even if our absence proved more favorable for many species.