A note on trophic complexity and community stability

This paper introduced the term 'keystone species,' comparing the ecological role to an architectural keystone whose removal causes structural collapse. The architectural metaphor powerfully communicates the concept: remove one brick from a wall and the wall stands; remove the keystone from an arch and the entire structure collapses.

This framing has proven influential in both ecology and business strategy, providing a clear mental model for understanding disproportionate structural importance.