The loss of foundation species revisited

Abstract

21Ecologists and environmental scientists often prioritize research efforts with conservation importance. Dominant, widespread, 22 or locally abundant species at low risk of extinction receive relatively little attention unless they are invasive. Native foundation 23 species create habitats and environmental conditions that support many associated species and modulate local-scale ecosystem 24 processes, but the generally high local or regional abundance of foundation species may lead to less research about them. We used 25 citation analysis (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014) to examine research following from a suggestion to identify and study foundation species while they 26 were still common and not threatened. We explored the use and expanding definition of the foundation species concept, as well as the 27 trajectory and ecological focus of research on foundation species throughout the world in 378 papers published in this nine-year span. 28Contemporary authors who cite key papers defining a foundation species pay little attention to its actual definition and species studied 29 in this context rarely were identified as foundation species. Although functions and roles of foundation species, such as creating 30 unique microclimates or supporting dependent species, are being studied, less research is focused on identifying them before they are 31 threatened or lost from the ecosystem that they otherwise define. Invasive species were identified as the most common threat to 32 foundation species. Our citation analysis and synthesis provides a new conceptual framework linking identification of and research 33 about foundation species with their functional roles and our ability to manage emerging threats to them.

Ecological restoration using intertidal foundation species: Considerations and potential for rockweed restoration

“…Fundamentally, the influence foundation species have on ecosystems is commensurate with their overall abundance; declines in abundance of foundation species can have cascading detrimental effects at population and community levels (Ellison et al, 2005(Ellison et al, , 2019. For example, the precipitous decline of shade-tolerant eastern hemlock trees in North America resulted in significant reductions in aquatic invertebrates as well as declines in sediment retention and productivity in streams (Degrassi et al, 2015;Ellison et al, 2005).…”