The Gopher Tortoise is called a keystone species for this reason because of its importance for helping to insure the survival of other species in its ecosystem. The loss of the organism results in the dramatic change or destruction of the ecosystem. Gopher tortoises live in the dry, sandy uplands of the southeastern United States. A keystone species can be anything from fungi and other plants to herbivores, carnivores, and mutualists. You may be surprised to learn that the gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species in Florida, which means their presence in the ecosystem is a crucial factor in species diversity. Keystone species have a disproportionately large effect on the abundance and diversity of other species, like insects, in an ecosystem. The gopher tortoise is a species of fossorial (burrow-dwelling) tortoise native to most of Florida and the southern portions of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Cut from areas that are under construction in the Florida Keys, it is swirled with large amounts of brain and fan corals. Their large limbs are uniquely designed to excavate burrows up to 33 feet long in Florida’s sandy soils. They are nearly always a critical component of the local food web. Here are 20 examples of keystone species in different ecosystems:. A keystone species is an animal or organism that holds an ecosystem together. Examples of keystone species in Florida include: Gopher tortoise. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is the only tortoise in the eastern United States, and in 2008, it was designated as the official state tortoise of Florida. It is a very white material and is consistent in color from piece to piece, having many large and small holes throughout each piece. Without keystone plants, the local food web may fall apart. Examples of keystone species in Florida include the American alligator and the eastern indigo snake. These gentle reptiles dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. The gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species for the sandhill community in that it “engineers” the habitat of many other species. Here in Florida, we are celebrating our own special species of tortoise on World Turtle Day! The animals that typically live in the Gopher’s burrow include burrowing owls, rattlesnakes, crickets and many others. Authentic Florida Keystone is only quarried in the famous Florida Keys. The gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species, as burrows dug by the tortoise are relied upon by over 350 other species, such as mice, snakes, frogs, and small mammals. American alligator: Alligators use their tails to make burrows to stay warm and when they move on, these burrows fill with water which is used by other species.Alligators are also predators, keeping the numbers of other species in check. They are a keystone species, imperative to the survival of at least 360 other species … Mangroves are a keystone species providing essential services that act as the base for the entire estuarine community. Keystone species maintain the local biodiversity of an ecosystem, influencing the abundance and type of other species in a habitat. Occasionally referred to as the "kidneys of the coast," mangroves are magnificent filters and maintain necessary water clarity for offshore corals and near shore seagrasses. A Keystone Species. Photo by Renee Rau Gopher tortoises are 9 to 11 inches long when fully grown, and usually live 40 to 60 years and spend around 80% of their lifetime in their burrows. Keystone Species in Their Environments .
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