Keystone species can also serve as “ecosystem engineers” who physically reshape or alter their habitats, such as beavers, who redirect the flow of rivers by constructing dams. The reintroduction of a single species can have spectacular, cascading effects, bolstering the health and prosperity of an entire ecosystem!
I hope these lessons from Scotland prompt you to think about any landscapes you encounter more critically, especially your home landscapes in Connecticut! Who were the Indigenous people who originally lived on these lands? Are the species you see on a daily basis native or introduced/invasive? What native species have gone extinct? What elements of my home landscape are ‘natural’ and which are the product of human management? Be curious, especially about the places you call home!
