關鍵物種及其在生態系中的作用（動物科學/生態學）

Amongst pockets of coastal tide pools and expansive grasslands to lush rainforests and frigid polar regions, the earth is home to a variety of ecosystems regulated and balanced by interconnected pieces, the life that calls them home. Keystone species have the power to define entire ecosystems and can be any organism from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals, they are vitally important in the functioning and dynamics of all ecosystems ultimately holding these systems together. Although all of an ecosystem's many components are intricately linked, these living things play a larger effect than most. These organisms need not to be the largest or most populated in number within their ecological community to make their impacts. If removed, trophic cascades and ecological domino effects occur leading into dramatic change to the ecosystem or it ceasing to exist all together. Environments without keystone species often undergo constant imbalances of food, water, shelter, and loss of species diversity as well as influxes of invasive species.

Keystone species can hold a variety of ecological positions such as predator, prey, ecosystem engineer, mutualist, plants, and others. Through their existence these organisms maintain local biodiversity (the variety of life) of an ecosystem, influencing the abundance and the  different types of species that can exist. Most typically these species play massive roles in food webs and the transfer of energy, they also can provide shelter, breeding areas, protection, amongst so many other benefits. 

This is a class all about keystone species that can be found across many of Earth's ecosystems. Learners will virtually travel our planet visiting terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) habitats and biomes in order to learn about unique species and the parts they play in the environments they are found within or even build themselves, like mangroves and coral reefs!

We will learn about notable keystone species, their food webs, and the impacts they influence locally and globally, especially on the other organisms within its ecosystem.

There will be plenty of facts provided on these plants/ animals as well as their characteristics, behavior, species diversity, and what makes them so special! We will work on broad (all encompassing) and narrow topics. There will be a focus on each species's natural history, evolutionary relationships, biology, anatomy, and the interactions/dynamics present within their ecosystems and beyond.

Certain classes we may have video clips to watch, activities like games/coloring pages/etcetera, and discussion about these flora/ fauna.


If you have questions regarding the schedule please reach out.

*Tuesday 10:45am EST 3 weeks behind;  Tuesday 8pm EST 4 weeks behind*

August 11- Week 1: Sea Star
August 18- Week 2: Sea Otter
August 25- Week 3: Beavers
September 1 - Week 4: Wolves
September 8 -Week 5: Bison (American and European)
September 15- Week 6: Prairie Dogs
September 22- Week 7: Tiger
September 29- Week 8: Elephant (African and Asian)
October 6- Week 9: Krill and Diatoms 
October 13- Week 10: Bees
October 20- Week 11: Mountain Lion
October 27- Week 12: Cactus
November 3- Week 13: Vultures
November 10- Week 14: Salmon
November 17- Week 15: Great Apes
November 24- Week 16: Manatees
December 1- Week 17: Lynx (Eurasian and Canada)
December 8- Week 18: Snowshoe Hare
December 15- Week 19: Mangroves
December 22- Week 20: Sharks
December 29- Week 21: Jaguar
January 5- Week 22: Native Trees - Oak, Fig, and more!
January 12 -Week 23: Hummingbirds
January 19- Week 24: Native Grasses/ Wildflowers
January 26- Week 25: Corals
February 2- Week 26: Wildebeest
February 9- Week 27: Termites
February 16- Week 28: Gopher Tortoise
February 23- Week 29: Oysters
March 2- Week 30: Pika
March 9- Week 31: Leopard
March 16- Week 32: Australian Dingo
March 23- Week 33: Lichens
March 30- Week 34: Tasmanian Devils
April 6- Week 35: Snow Leopards
April 13- Week 36: Leaf-cutter Ants
April 20- Week 37: American Alligator
April 27- Week 38: Kangaroo Rat
May 4- Week 39: Cassowary
May 11- Week 40: Seagrasses
May 18- Week 41: Brown Bear
May 25- Week 42: Lion
June 1- Week 43: Boar and Peccary
June 8- Week 44: Goshawk
June 15- Week 45: Blue Crab
June 22- Week 46: Fruit Bat



Students will also learn about these plant's and animal's conservation/ preservation, concerns, and threats as habitat loss amongst many other impacts affect these species. EDUCATION is the first step in conservation! These animals are absolutely necessary to the proper functioning of ecosystems globally and they need our help!

This is a lecture style, interactive class with many opportunities to ask and answer questions from myself or other students. 
No prior knowledge or experience is needed to take this course. 
A love for nature is most definitely appreciated :) 

Flexible Age Range!!! 
Join on whatever week you would like!