Joshua Tree Spikes
According to the NRDC, "A keystone species—which can be any organism, from animals and plants to bacteria and fungi—is the glue that holds a habitat together. It may not be the largest or most plentiful species in an ecological community, but if a keystone is removed, it sets off a chain of events that turns the structure and biodiversity of its habitat into something very different." The Joshua tree is a keystone species in the Mojave desert, providing habitat and food for a wide variety of birds, insects, rodents, and reptiles. Photo © copyright by Sarah Marino and Ron Coscorrosa.