Journal of Ecology and Conservation

Invasive/ Introduced/ Keystone Species and their Habitat

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Keystone species are endemic organisms that define the ecosystem by maintaining a healthy and balanced food chain. Introduced species are those that, when introduced into a new environment or ecosystem, strive but cause no harm to the existing ecosystem. But invasive species wreak havoc in the environment they are introduced to, causing significant ecological and economic damage. Invasive species can exert damage by rapidly overpopulating the new environment or by depleting nutrition before the other members can assimilate them. Hence, an acute understanding of a species’ nature and response to different environments is highly recommended before introducing them into an alien environment.