Skip to main content

Sage Social Science Thesaurus

Search from vocabulary

Content language

Concept information

... > social science subjects > sociology > anthropology > geography/geology > biogeography > animal geographies > keystone species
... > social science subjects > geography > Earth science > physical geography > biogeography > animal geographies > keystone species
... > other subjects > natural sciences > Earth science > physical geography > biogeography > animal geographies > keystone species
... > social science subjects > geography > human geography > social and cultural geography > animal geographies > keystone species
... > social science subjects > sociology > anthropology > geography/geology > biogeography > keystone species
... > social science subjects > geography > Earth science > physical geography > biogeography > keystone species
... > other subjects > natural sciences > Earth science > physical geography > biogeography > keystone species

Preferred term

keystone species  

Definition

  • Keystone species are plants or animals that have important effects on a particular ecosystem's biodiversity and function, despite having a relatively low abundance. The term keystone originated in the field of architecture to describe a centrally located wedge-shaped stone that supports an entire arch. [Source: Encyclopedia of Geography; Keystone Species]

Broader concept

Belongs to group

URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/keystone_species

Download this concept:

RDF/XML TURTLE JSON-LD