Keystone Species

Imagine you are building a big, tall arch with colorful blocks. There is one special block right in the very middle at the top. If you pull it out, all the other blocks tumble down. Some animals are like that special block. They are super important helpers. Without them, their homes in the woods or the water can get all wobbly and sad. All the other animals and plants need them to keep things happy and strong. I am that special helper. I am a Keystone Species.

Once upon a time, way back in the year 1969, a kind scientist named Robert Paine went to the big, sparkly ocean to watch the animals. He looked in little puddles of water on the rocks called tide pools. They were so busy. He saw bright orange and purple starfish sticking to the rocks like beautiful stars. Robert noticed something amazing. In the tide pools where the starfish lived, there were lots of different kinds of friends living together. There were little shells and wiggly barnacles and soft, green seaweed. It was a happy, colorful neighborhood. But in pools without the starfish, things changed. One bossy mussel grew everywhere and took up all the room. The other little creatures couldn't live there anymore. Robert learned that the starfish were the special helpers, and he gave me my name.

I have lots of other helpers too. Fluffy sea otters are my helpers in the big, cold ocean. They love to eat spiky sea urchins for lunch. Munch, munch, crunch. When they do that, they help the big, tall underwater forests grow strong. These forests are a safe, cozy home for so many little fish. I am here to show you that everyone, no matter how big or small, can be a very important helper. When we protect my special friends like the starfish and the otters, we help all the animals and plants in the world stay happy and safe. We keep our world beautiful and full of life.