Sean B. Carroll

Keystones, dubbed after the name of the keystone in a Roman arch, removal of these keystones have really outsized effects on systems. And so their restoration can have outsized effects on the restoration of the health of these ecosystems.

Keystones, dubbed after the name of the keystone in a Roman arch, removal of these keystones have really outsized effects on systems. And so their restoration can have outsized effects on the restoration of the health of these ecosystems.

It's a very competitive world out there, yeah. And creatures are competing with each other of different kinds and of their own kind for resources, et cetera. And these are very complex web of interactions that's going on anywhere, in a coastal system, in a forest, in a pond, out on a plains.

It's a very competitive world out there, yeah. And creatures are competing with each other of different kinds and of their own kind for resources, et cetera. And these are very complex web of interactions that's going on anywhere, in a coastal system, in a forest, in a pond, out on a plains.

It's a very competitive world out there, yeah. And creatures are competing with each other of different kinds and of their own kind for resources, et cetera. And these are very complex web of interactions that's going on anywhere, in a coastal system, in a forest, in a pond, out on a plains.

But that web, there are certain components of those systems that when you remove them, the web sort of collapses. And that's what humans were doing unwittingly for, I think, a good part of the 19th and 20th centuries.

But that web, there are certain components of those systems that when you remove them, the web sort of collapses. And that's what humans were doing unwittingly for, I think, a good part of the 19th and 20th centuries.

But that web, there are certain components of those systems that when you remove them, the web sort of collapses. And that's what humans were doing unwittingly for, I think, a good part of the 19th and 20th centuries.

And it was a bunch of biologists, a bunch of ecologists studying these systems over long periods of time in the last four or five decades of the 20th century that put together, essentially from studying different systems, an understanding of these rules that sort of knit life on a large scale together. And understanding these rules then, of course, empowers us with a better understanding of life.

And it was a bunch of biologists, a bunch of ecologists studying these systems over long periods of time in the last four or five decades of the 20th century that put together, essentially from studying different systems, an understanding of these rules that sort of knit life on a large scale together. And understanding these rules then, of course, empowers us with a better understanding of life.

And it was a bunch of biologists, a bunch of ecologists studying these systems over long periods of time in the last four or five decades of the 20th century that put together, essentially from studying different systems, an understanding of these rules that sort of knit life on a large scale together. And understanding these rules then, of course, empowers us with a better understanding of life.

What's our best long-term behavior?

What's our best long-term behavior?

What's our best long-term behavior?

Yeah, let's go with one. So one rule are these certain species that have these outsized effects called keystone species. Another rule is there's sometimes really strong indirect effects between species. And one of my favorite examples is the influence of salmon in Western rivers on tree growth. And you're like, what? Yes, trees need salmon. How does that work?

Yeah, let's go with one. So one rule are these certain species that have these outsized effects called keystone species. Another rule is there's sometimes really strong indirect effects between species. And one of my favorite examples is the influence of salmon in Western rivers on tree growth. And you're like, what? Yes, trees need salmon. How does that work?

Yeah, let's go with one. So one rule are these certain species that have these outsized effects called keystone species. Another rule is there's sometimes really strong indirect effects between species. And one of my favorite examples is the influence of salmon in Western rivers on tree growth. And you're like, what? Yes, trees need salmon. How does that work?

Well, it turns out that those rivers, think of things like the Columbia or Snake, sort of majestic rivers in the Pacific Northwest, those rivers don't carry a lot of nutrients.

Well, it turns out that those rivers, think of things like the Columbia or Snake, sort of majestic rivers in the Pacific Northwest, those rivers don't carry a lot of nutrients.

Well, it turns out that those rivers, think of things like the Columbia or Snake, sort of majestic rivers in the Pacific Northwest, those rivers don't carry a lot of nutrients.