Citation
The keystone-species concept in ecology and conservation
TL;DR
Critical examination of keystone concept application
This critical analysis examined how the keystone concept should be defined and applied in conservation contexts. The paper addressed important questions about when the keystone label is appropriate and how it should guide conservation priorities.
The analysis is relevant to organizational contexts where 'keystone' risks becoming an overused label. Not everything important is a keystone - the concept requires disproportionate impact relative to size, not just high importance.
Key Findings from Mills et al. (1993)
- Critical examination of keystone concept application
- Distinction between importance and keystone status
- Guidelines for applying keystone concept in conservation
- Caution against overuse of the keystone label