👤 whose
Whose work first showed that sea otters are a keystone species?
EcologyMarine Life
Quick Answer
Ecologist Robert T. Paine introduced the idea of the keystone species in the 1960s through studies of sea otters and intertidal ecosystems. Sea otters help control sea urchins and protect kelp forests.
The Full Story
Robert T. Paine’s experiments in the 1960s made sea otters famous in ecology as a species with outsized influence. By removing top predators in study areas, Paine showed how sea otters help control sea urchin populations and indirectly support kelp forests. This led to the concept of the keystone species, meaning a species whose effect on an ecosystem is far larger than its abundance might suggest. The idea became foundational in conservation biology.
Key Facts
1.Paine’s work dates to the 1960s
2.Sea otters control sea urchin populations
3.The keystone species concept came from his studies
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The tiny-research lesson that changed ecology forever"