3 Animals That Keep Their Whole Ecosystem Together

What do gray wolves, elephants, and parrotfish have in common? They're all keystone species, which means they have an especially large impact on their habitat. SciShow explores how these animals keep their ecosystems running.

Hosted by: Olivia Gordon

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General

Wolves

Elephants

Parrotfish

Image Sources:

[Master_Therion]

If an ecosystem is like an arch, does that make humans... the arch-enemy?

[IntarwebUser]

Fascinating to learn that the importance of wolves isn't just about controlling prey numbers, but rather prey behavior.

[nathan_]

HI PERSON SCROLLING THROUGH THE COMMENTS HAVE A GREAT DAY AND NEVER LOSE HOPE IN

[MrEquusQuagga]

I hate that videos with Olivia get more dislikes than the videos with the male hosts. At this point it seems deliberately spiteful and just unfair.

[shannbot]

I live in Hawaii, and as a kid out playing in the ocean, a parrotfish seized my right hand middle finger and SNAP! I had to get stitches. They're not called parrotfish for no reason, they have very sharp beaks. If you go snorkelling, you can actually hear them chomping down on the coral, it's pretty cool!

[monsterram]

2:34 "Daddy, why does that elephant have five legs?" Thanks, SciShow...

[GBart]

You know what isn't a keystone species? Human

[BlackStarrSoul]

I love you, Olivia!! Keep up the good work!

[theseigemeister]

How grey wolves affect Yellowstone's ecosystem is super interesting. Could you do a future video on the difference between positive & negative feedback loops? 🤔

[eustacia]

I love that elephants influence their environment in such a huge way primarily by knocking into things and pooping!

[hiimdaisy]

My high school biology class did a project on that case of wolf reintroduction. We argued whether or not reintroduction should be done (were later told it was a real case and the wolves had been reintroduced)

[InformationBlast]

Who knew elephant poop was so important for life

[jackjmaheriii]

Thr reason why Olivia gets more dislikes is because she's a terrible host!!! Emily Graslie didn't have that problem when she worked for SciSho so wasn't reviled. Olivia has gotten better but she still by far the weakest host. She doesn't speak with confidence and her voice waivers like she's about to cry. Even her posture and mannerisms don't support the format. She's not an 11-year-old delivering a school report, she's a professional Internet personality. She needs to start acting like it.

[williamdevane]

Not technically an animal, but tacos are pretty important

[myrusEW]

I just dislike because I don't like her voice or her face. You can get mad, that's fine. But, that's your right, just like not liking this person is my right. If they showed who was hosting, I'd not watch, and therefore, not dislike.

[alexrobins]

I have a pet parrot fish and shes like 10 years old and still kickin

[ellenjarrard]

Comment ratio:
50%- Hating on the host
20%- Spam
15%- Responding to these comments
10%- Why are/is there (topic of the video) around my anus?
5%- Actual scientific stuff

[AnnoyingSquib]

There is a small downside for the re population of wolves however. I have seen the numbers of mountain lions take a huge hit in their numbers since there is now major competition for food and they can still be hunted. Mountain lions are on the verge of becoming an endangered species in some areas. With wolves numbers back in the healthy range, we need to turn that same passion into saving and preserving the big cats. A start could be a temporary ban on hunting mountain lions until their numbers are better.

[coldsobanoodle]

Bring wolves back to the rest of America! It will help balance the deer population!

[jaschabull]

"The wolves changed Yellowstone in large and often surprising ways, right down to how the rivers flow."

So you're saying the Secwépemc story of a coyote redirecting rivers wasn't that farfetched after all?