Keystone Species
A keystone species is an individual species that has an important role in preserving an environment. If the keystone species is taken out, the ecosystem has a high chance of failing. The keystone species has a niche that can affect all aspects of different species
What is the keystone species in the area?
The keystone species in the area affected by the Taylor Wells Oil Spill is plankton. In plankton's niche, it provides food to a variety of primary consumers such as different types of fish. Plankton can also be a species that keep plants such as algae from overgrowing and taking over the ecosystem. The primary consumers provide food for secondary consumers and so on. If the foundation of the food web is gone, then the rest will crumble. The oil that is spilled into the water killed the majority of the plankton population. Since the plankton was the basis of the food pyramid with primary consumers depending on them for food and secondary consumers depending on primary consumers and so on, the ecosystem could be in danger of dying. Another consequence of plankton dying would be that the ecosystem wouldn't fall apart, but species would have to compete for food resulting in some individuals dying.