According to the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, "Keystone Species are species who enrich ecosystem function in a unique and significant manner through their activities, and the effect is disproportionate to their numerical abundance. Their removal initiates changes in ecosystem structure and often loss of diversity. These keystones may be habitat modifiers (e.g. cottonwoods, rushes and ironwood), keystone predators (e.g. puma and coyote) or keystone herbivores (e.g. prairie dog and beaver)."
A partial list of keystone species includes:
Freemont Cottonwood
Ironwood
Saguaro Cactus
Velvet Mesquite
Source:
Keystone Species | Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, opens a new window
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