Keystone Species
Colorado Species:
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/4/5/28456873/6473088.png)
Aspen Trees
Aspen Trees are located in North America. They can be found anywhere from Alaska to Newfoundland and down the Rocky Mountains. They're found in forests, and they don't eat anything since they're plants. Mostly humans prey on Apen Trees, just from cutting them down. But they're also starting to decline because of insects, disease, and fungi. Insects get into the trees, under their bark, and feed off of certain parts of them, which cuts off things that they need. This can make the trees become diseased, which ultimately kills them. Aspen Trees are a keystone species because they cover up the sun-lit areas of forests and provide shade for other trees and plants that don't like as much sun. It's also essential for insects because a lot of them make the trees their home.
Aspen Trees are located in North America. They can be found anywhere from Alaska to Newfoundland and down the Rocky Mountains. They're found in forests, and they don't eat anything since they're plants. Mostly humans prey on Apen Trees, just from cutting them down. But they're also starting to decline because of insects, disease, and fungi. Insects get into the trees, under their bark, and feed off of certain parts of them, which cuts off things that they need. This can make the trees become diseased, which ultimately kills them. Aspen Trees are a keystone species because they cover up the sun-lit areas of forests and provide shade for other trees and plants that don't like as much sun. It's also essential for insects because a lot of them make the trees their home.
Other species:
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/4/5/28456873/9318396.png)
Pisaster Ochraceus (Purple Sea Star)
The Purple Sea Star is located anywhere from Alaska to Baja, California. They're very common in the Northeastern Pacific. They live in wave-washed, rocky shores and beaches. They eat mussels, chitons, limpets, snails, barnacles, echinoids, and decapod crustacea. Sea otters and sea gulls prey on the sea star. The main factor that has caused a decline in the Purple Sea Star is humans. They go to the ocean, see these pretty purple sea stars, pick them up, and take them away from the water and their home. This kills them and ultimately hurts their entire species as a whole. The Purple Sea Star is a keystone species because when it's removed from its environment, the diversity of species in the area decreases.
The Purple Sea Star is located anywhere from Alaska to Baja, California. They're very common in the Northeastern Pacific. They live in wave-washed, rocky shores and beaches. They eat mussels, chitons, limpets, snails, barnacles, echinoids, and decapod crustacea. Sea otters and sea gulls prey on the sea star. The main factor that has caused a decline in the Purple Sea Star is humans. They go to the ocean, see these pretty purple sea stars, pick them up, and take them away from the water and their home. This kills them and ultimately hurts their entire species as a whole. The Purple Sea Star is a keystone species because when it's removed from its environment, the diversity of species in the area decreases.