The keystone of an arch has a similar role as a keystone species does in an ecosystem. In nature there are big players and little players, and the biggest player is referred to as the keystone species. The name derives from the center stone in an arch which supports its weight by inward-leaning stones. Removal of the keystone causes the arch to collapse, and the same goes for an ecosystem.
Keystone Species and Resources
The keystone species is a species whose presence or absence, or substantial increase or decrease in abundance, profoundly affects other species in the community. The keystone species are the resource that make it possible for other animals to exist, and without them other animals that depend on the keystone species would take a toll on their populations because they wouldn't be getting the service the keystone species provide. In Haiti's ecosystem, humans are the keystone species. The humans eat whatever plant or animal they can fnid in the community, and they have mostly parastism relationships with the things they eat. This species lost most of it's food source after the earthquake since many plants were destroyed and animals were killed, so now the species is struggling to feed themselves. Because the human population is decreasing due to the lack of food, some animal species are benifiting. Animals such as squirrels, birds, and lizards are not being hunted, but they aren't able to find food sources either therefore are dying off also. The humans aren't working on fixing the ecosystem since they are suffering themselves. They aren't eating plants and decreasing the numbers, but they aren't growing any plants either.
This leads to resources, or anything/ item that is a nessacity of life. The keystone species is not getting enough resources, or food and water, therefore all other animal species are suffering as well. The main resources that the humans use and need in the area are water, space, and nutrients from food. These resources were affected by the earthquake because the water stopped cycling through in the region, so many ponds, rivers, and wells dried out, leaving the human keystone species in demand of water. Space was limited before because of the large amount of human population, but after the earthquake space was limited because neiborhoods were destroyed to junk piles and the humans didn't and still don't have the supplies to clear out the mess. Also, obviously, the nutrients from food were affected by the eathquake because many plants and animals died, therefore leaving the human species in need of a food source. Resource partitioning, or dividing resources so that no two species overplap one another completely, is lessening. As the resources decrease and demand grows, competition starts to occur between all the species in the area.
This leads to resources, or anything/ item that is a nessacity of life. The keystone species is not getting enough resources, or food and water, therefore all other animal species are suffering as well. The main resources that the humans use and need in the area are water, space, and nutrients from food. These resources were affected by the earthquake because the water stopped cycling through in the region, so many ponds, rivers, and wells dried out, leaving the human keystone species in demand of water. Space was limited before because of the large amount of human population, but after the earthquake space was limited because neiborhoods were destroyed to junk piles and the humans didn't and still don't have the supplies to clear out the mess. Also, obviously, the nutrients from food were affected by the eathquake because many plants and animals died, therefore leaving the human species in need of a food source. Resource partitioning, or dividing resources so that no two species overplap one another completely, is lessening. As the resources decrease and demand grows, competition starts to occur between all the species in the area.