Keystone Species and Ecosystem Balance

Removing one animal can make an entire ecosystem collapse. These are called keystone species,

and they're the glue holding nature together. Take sea otters. They munch on sea

urchins. If the otters disappear, the urchin population explodes and devours entire kelp forests,

creating an underwater desert. It's not just predators, either. Some are 'ecosystem

engineers,' like the Aussie bilby. Its constant digging creates tiny new habitats for seeds

and water, literally shaping the landscape. The survival of a whole ecosystem

can depend on one single species, proving just how fragile that balance really is.