Anonymous. (2020, January 29). The Health of Foundation Species Promotes the Stability of the Ecosystems That Depend on Them. Retrieved February 23, 2020, from https://yubanet.com/cal ifornia/the-health-of-foundation-species-promotes-the-stability-of-the-ecosystems-that-depend-on-them/

 

Foundation species contribute to the overall health of the ecosystems around them, and help to essentially protect it during difficult periods that are damaging to the ecosystem. It’s noted that ecosystems are often named after their foundational species, like redwood forests, coral reefs, or oyster beds. This article chose to focus on kelp forests, using over 18 years worth of data from nine shallow reefs in the Santa Barbra channel, in California. They concluded that foundation species have a significant effect on the surrounding ecosystems and are vital in keeping it healthy. 

 

Although the focus of the article was on kelp forests, the same conclusions held through for coral reefs- without the coral, it’s extremely difficult for the ecosystem around them to survive. I found the article a bit funny, as they were very insistent on testing something that already seemed pretty obvious, but I suppose it’s a good thing that they proved it just to be sure. It’s related to environmental science because when foundation species, like corals, die due to warming waters, it impacts the entirety of their community and has an even more profound effect.