Arkansas

Arkansas exemplifies how keystone species reshape entire ecosystems. Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville with $648 billion in annual revenue, isn't just the world's largest company by sales—it's an economic apex predator that has transformed the region's fundamental structure. Within 20 miles of its headquarters, the once-agricultural landscape has undergone ecological succession: farmland becoming corporate campuses, family operations giving way to supplier networks, and 170-year farming legacies yielding to suburban development.

Poultry represents the other dominant species in Arkansas's economy, accounting for half of agricultural output. Through Tyson Foods and its extensive network, 6,500 family farms produce poultry that supports 175,000 jobs with an economic impact exceeding $50 billion. This concentration creates vulnerability typical of monocultures—the industry's success depends on disease management, feed costs, and export markets. Yet it also demonstrates mutualistic networks: integrators like Tyson provide chicks, feed, and guaranteed purchase while farmers contribute labor and facilities.

The collision between these systems creates edge effects visible across Northwest Arkansas. A University of Arkansas professor observed that through the mid-1990s, "this was a farming community"—now it's a "farm economy in transition." Subdivisions promising "country-charm-meets-city-convenience" stand steps from industrial poultry farms. With a $188.7 billion GDP and six Fortune 500 headquarters, Arkansas demonstrates how corporate keystone species can fundamentally alter economic landscapes while agricultural systems persist in their shadow.