EXAMPLES OF KEYSTONE SPECIES

1. GRIZZLY BEARS

Characteristics:

The grizzly bear is a magnificent, terrifying, and honorable creature. It is regarded as North America's
second-largest carnivore. This brown bear subspecies is a massive creature that can weigh up to 800
pounds. Some of those apprehended weighed up to 1400 pounds. Standing on their hind feet, they can
reach a height of up to 8 feet. From the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, the grizzly is an average of
1.8 meters long.

Why Grizzly bear considered as keystone:

They are considered as keystone species because their feeding on salmon carcasses enriches the
environment with nutrients. They also aid in the dispersal of seeds from various berry bushes via their
urine. Furthermore, if their influence is higher than other species in relation to their density within their
habitats, one can expect to witness large impacts and habitat adjustments in locations where they have
been fully extirpated, particularly in California and the lower 48 states.

Habitats, feeding habits, and threats:

A healthy grizzly bear habitat has all of the elements required for the species' survival: food, shelter, a
place to sleep, seclusion, and lots of space. Grizzly bears are only found in broad areas of relatively
undisturbed terrain, and there is a definite link between grizzly bear extinction and habitat damage or
fragmentation. Researchers concur that the most important aspect of grizzly bear survival is ensuring
sufficient habitat.

By nature, grizzly bears are omnivore and predators, spending a great deal of their waking time looking
for food. Grizzly bears are adaptive eaters who will eat insects, a range of blooming plants,
roots, grasses, berries, small animals, fish, carrion and other dead animals, various meat supplies such as
young and weakened animals, and perhaps even human rubbish if it is readily available. In the spring,
summer, and fall of each year, bears are active and feeding for 6 to 8 months. To survive the winter,
they must ingest a huge amount of food.  Through their personal observations, bears in each
environment learn where and when specific foods are available.

One of the most serious threats to grizzly bear is conflict with people. Bears may invade human-
occupied regions in search of food or shelter, and as a result, they may indeed be judged a threat and
killed.

2. ELEPHANTS

Characteristics:

Aside from its enormous size, which can reach 13 feet (4 meters), the elephant has a number of
additional distinguishing physical traits. It can weigh up around one huge amount. A calf's birth weight is
normally around 220 pounds (100 kilograms). The elephant is one of the world's oldest mammals, with a
lifespan of up to 70 years. Elephant's speed regulated up to 34 mph and a pregnancy of 22 months, in
which their productive age can live up to 12 to 50.
Why Elephants considered as keystone:

Elephants are designated keystone species because they appear as Ecosystem Engineers, changing,
constructing, and sustaining homes for both plant and animal species in the ecosystem. They contribute
excessively, significantly, and essentially fair to determining the types and quantities of various other
species in the community, as well as guaranteeing their own and other species' long-term survival in the
ecosystem.

Habitats, feeding habits, and threats:

Elephants most often dwell near a water source. They use it not just for consuming, as well as for
bathing to preserve their skin from the sun and heat. These mammals enjoy wallowing in the mud and
sprinkling dust all over themselves to protect themselves from the sun and insect bites. They require a
lot of maintenance and rarely stay in one location for longer timeframes. These creatures are the
caretakers of the natural world. They scatter seeds as they wander, promoting the establishment of
plants in different places.

The elephant is an herbivore, meaning it eats only plants. Their food includes tree and bush ’s leaves, as
well as herbs and fruits. It requires 16 hours of feeding per day to survive. Which implies it can eat up to
551 pounds (250 kilograms) of food in that period. The elephant's stomach could only metabolize half of
what it eats. As a result, it must be fed gently and gradually. The elephant, on the other hand, must
rehydrate in order to finish its meal. It may consume up to 15 liters of water at a time.

Humans, who persist to damage their natural habitat or hunt for something like the illegal wildlife trade
and other motives, constitute the greatest threat to this species. Reluctance on the part of campaigners
and animal lovers, there is still more that can be done to protect them.

KEYSTONE SPECIES FOUND IN THE PHILIPPINES

3. FRESH WATER CROCODILE

Characteristics:

It's a freshwater crocodile that's quite small. It has a large nose and massive bony dorsal spines on its
back that function as body armor.

Why Freshwater crocodile considered as keystone:

Crocodiles considered as keystone species because they serve a vital ecological function in wetlands, as
well as being engaged in biogeochemical cycles and producing huge amounts of essential nutrients due
to its huge biomass, that has been well speculated to result in enhanced fishery resources in wetlands
such as river. Any vertebrate species extinction in a given area is predicted to result in considerable
biodiversity loss and environmental instability.

Habitats, feeding habits, and threats:

The prevalence of their habitat is freshwater, which include ponds, swamps, and small rivers.
Freshwater crocodiles, soaks up under the sun throughout the day to keep warm. Whenever they are
overheated, they will open their mouth to expel the heat. These crocodiles can hover somewhat on
surface of the water.

Philippines freshwater crocodile are carnivores that eat fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, wild rodents, snakes,
and birds.

Aggressive commercial hunting has resulted in a massive population reduction for this species in the
prior. However, the greatest major threat to their survival is habitat destruction, as rainforests across
the region are destroyed for farmlands to sustain the area's growing population. The infamous
'saltwater' or estuary crocodile, one of several world's largest, with a notorious for being a man-eater,
dwells in quite the same area and likely appeals to residents' hatred of any crocodile species, thus the
small Philippine crocodile is also frequently slain when seen.

4. THE GREAT PHILIPPINE EAGLE

Characteristics:

Philippine eagle has Long crown feathers, a large arched beak, and two Bluish eyes that are considered
to be extremely acute are all distinguishing features of the Philippine eagle. In comparison to humans,
these birds have somewhat sharper vision and could see approximately eight times the distance that the
human eye can. It is regarded as one of the biggest and most powerful forest raptors. The International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classed them as severely endangered, with just 400 pairs
remaining in the jungle.

Philippine Eagle considered as keystone:

The Philippine Eagle plays a critical part in maintaining the ecosystem's delicate balance. It aids in the
natural regulation of species populations and provides a protective cover for all of the other life forms in
its realm. A healthy forest is characterized by a large population of Philippine Eagles.

Habitats, feeding habits, and threats:

The eagle lives in mid-mountain forests, but prefers steep terrain. They can be found as high as 1,800
meters equivalent to 5,900 feet above sea level in the Himalayas. The Philippine eagle's overall
estimated habitat range is 146,000 km2 or 56,000 square meters. It usually waits on a tree branch and
concentrates on the prey while remaining motionless.

Philippine eagles are predators. Their feeding habits consists monkeys, birds, flying foxes, huge cloud
rats, Asian palm civets, flying squirrels, tree squirrels, fruit bats, reptiles such as enormous snakes and
lizards, and even other birds of prey. In some areas, they will however prey on flying lemurs and have
also been recorded to capture young pigs and small dogs.

Philippine eagles are largely threatened by deforestation caused by logging and growing agricultural
businesses. Old-growth forest is rapidly disappearing, and logging companies possess the majority of the
forest in the lowlands. Mining, pollution, chemical exposure that affects reproduction, and hunting are
all significant hazards. Furthermore, Philippine eagles are occasionally caught in deer traps set by locals.