Human Keystone

The study of keystone species is something that I have learned about only recently. The extent to which keystone species effect or control their environment was something that I hadn’t fully considered until now. Looking at the interconnected web that they hold together, the extent to which ecosystems have mutualized seems very clear. The essays by Malcolm Margolin, and Dennis Martinez in part II of Natures Operating Instructions were really quite eye opening. Fallowing with the current paradigm I had always considered humans as an external disturbance to the workings of a natural ecosystem, rather then another biotic species interconnected and included with in that ecosystem. I think that this understanding is imperative for us to fully grasp the effects, both positive and negative, that we can create in our environment.