3 Animals That Keep Their Whole Ecosystem Together

What do gray wolves, elephants, and parrotfish have in common? They're all keystone species, which means they have an especially large impact on their habitat. SciShow explores how these animals keep their ecosystems running.
Hosted by: Olivia Gordon
Want more SciShow in person? We'll be at NerdCon: Nerdfighteria in Boston on February 25th and 26th! For more information, go to www.nerdconnerdfighteria.com/
----------
Support SciShow by becoming a patron on Patreon: / scishow
----------
Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters-we couldn't make SciShow without them! Shout out to Jeremy Peng, Kevin Bealer, Mark Terrio-Cameron, KatieMarie Magnone, Patrick Merrithew, Charles Southerland, Fatima Iqbal, Benny, Kyle Anderson, Tim Curwick, Scott Satovsky Jr, Will and Sonja Marple, Philippe von Bergen, Bella Nash, Bryce Daifuku, Chris Peters, Saul, Patrick D. Ashmore, Charles George, Bader AlGhamdi
----------
Like SciShow? Want to help support us, and also get things to put on your walls, cover your torso and hold your liquids? Check out our awesome products over at DFTBA Records: dftba.com/scishow
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook: / scishow
Twitter: / scishow
Tumblr: / scishow
Instagram: / thescishow
----------
Sources:
General
www.nature.com/scitable/knowle...
web.utk.edu/~mnunez/Keystones%...
Wolves
www.yellowstonepark.com/wolf-r...
• How Wolves Change Rivers
www.researchgate.net/profile/...
ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xml...
www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature...
Elephants
nationalgeographic.org/encyclo...
• The gardeners of the f...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/...
thinkelephants.blogspot.co.uk/
jmammal.oxfordjournals.org/con...
www.sciencenews.org/blog/wild...
www.livescience.com/5650-frogs...
Parrotfish
voices.nationalgeographic.com/...
www.icriforum.org/caribbeanreport
sustainabledevelopment.un.org...
Image Sources:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
archive.org/details/ScienceNa...

[@Master_Therion]

If an ecosystem is like an arch, does that make humans... the arch-enemy?

[@caitlynstokes6781]

Ba bum tasss

[@MrCardeso]

No, we're the divinely appointed archons of the ecosystem (and such a smashing job we do!)

[@dagamerking]

Master Therion lol, you put did yourself there.

[@ganaraminukshuk0]

Can I use you as the keystone for an arch?

[@amcat8015]

Master Therion No... just no.

[@monsterram6617]

2:34 "Daddy, why does that elephant have five legs?" Thanks, SciShow...

[@matthewcapobianco9332]

BEHOLD THE MIRACLE OF NATURE"

[@Militant4life43]

Yeah, it would be a real shame if you educated your kid on basic anatomy

[@Shnarfbird]

oh sweet jebus

[@Babarudra]

you're the type that complains about nudes in museums too, aren't ya?

[@negativespace3233]

Better now than later

[@nathan_1048]

HI PERSON SCROLLING THROUGH THE COMMENTS HAVE A GREAT DAY AND NEVER LOSE HOPE IN ANYTHING!!!!!!

[@nathan_1048]

Stephen Fapsalot ha lol

[@j_gnzz]

Well I start school tomorrow soooo...

[@nathan_1048]

Julian Gonzales same. Doesn't it just suck :,(

[@justindie7543]

You have a suspicious mustache...

[@sween187]

not to be picky but if you remove any stone from the arch it will fall, that's engineering.

[@sween187]

I would say an equilibrium key species or something to that affect.

[@sgneezen8176]

sween187 Yeah, it seems they don't know what keystones actually are

[@caitlynstokes6781]

I'm happy someone said that

[@The12Fly]

dude of course that's true...but the terminology was adopted from that idea. even if that idea csn be disproved the name stuck but its importance doesn't change. just because you can disprove the etymology doesnt make the research invalid

[@rpggriffin]

He's not suggesting that the research is invalid. He's saying that it's a dumb term.

[@GBart]

You know what isn't a keystone species? Human

[@daniel90340]

They are in some way, think of the enormous amount of rats, pigeons, roaches etcetera living in cities.

[@flavoredrick9664]

AndroidDoctorr you want all people to die out?

[@alexsiemers7898]

Did you not hear the first thirty seconds of the video?

[@GBart]

Daniel Achternaam I think they'd be fine... Cattle on the other hand... although that's debatable since we invented the species, and their absence probably wouldn't have massive consequences beyond their parasites.

[@docopoper]

If Wolves can be a keystone species to Yellowstone, we are a keystone species to cities. Being a keystone species doesn't mean that if the species is gone that everything collapses forever. With the wolves gone forever Yellowstone would end up looking like something new after a while... Just like with cities and us. That's not to say we're doing good overall for the world or anything.

[@IntarwebUser]

Fascinating to learn that the importance of wolves isn't just about controlling prey numbers, but rather prey behavior.

[@MrEquusQuagga]

I hate that videos with Olivia get more dislikes than the videos with the male hosts. At this point it seems deliberately spiteful and just unfair.

[@ihuvvvcuncur2617]

Dr. Zebra I think she's really cute and awesome! But people have opinions and we have to respect that.

[@kubeek]

I don´t think this is beacuse of her being female. She stopped wearing so much stainless stuff, but that could have gotten her a bit of dislike with the usual watchers that is gonna stick for a while. Another problem I think is between her and the soundguy, where she doesn´t realy make you interestes with her diction, and the sound is so squished that it makes things a lot worse and makes me loose interest very early. Thus, not necesarily a gender inequality.

[@tehoverlord7496]

Dr. Zebra it's probably bc she's done videos in the past that completely disregards science theories bc they are "too racist" (the crash course human geography is the main video)

[@theorbization]

male and female hasnt got shit to do with it she just isnt as engaging, stop trying to stir shit up

[@Fofnful]

By my opinion, its because she looks like minotaur aaand speeaks reeaaalyy slooowlllyyyy.

[@shannbot9505]

I live in Hawaii, and as a kid out playing in the ocean, a parrotfish seized my right hand middle finger and SNAP! I had to get stitches. They're not called parrotfish for no reason, they have very sharp beaks. If you go snorkelling, you can actually hear them chomping down on the coral, it's pretty cool!

[@WAKEISLAND99]

Keep it up Olivia! We love you!

[@JelloFish143]

This narrator is super cute tbh

[@asian1599]

huh

[@LJdaentertainer]

shiddd...

[@FallenShadowNinja]

STFU. You're just kissing ass.

[@mehtabalishahpuffgoawayplease]

Loathing Loser that's what happens, the more u see her the more u like her

[@JelloFish143]

FallenShadowNinja LMAO, I'm a girl myself and I'm just complimenting her! :)

[@BlackStarrSoul]

I love you, Olivia!! Keep up the good work!

[@OAmoretNoctis1Izzy]

Kodama +

[@elinobenjamin]

+

[@ZamanCraft]

I also....

[@KenworthyMike]

+

[@robertharaway8196]

+ Trophic cascades are awesome

[@hiimdaisy956]

My high school biology class did a project on that case of wolf reintroduction. We argued whether or not reintroduction should be done (were later told it was a real case and the wolves had been reintroduced)

[@theseigemeister]

How grey wolves affect Yellowstone's ecosystem is super interesting. Could you do a future video on the difference between positive & negative feedback loops? 🤔

[@eustacia03]

I love that elephants influence their environment in such a huge way primarily by knocking into things and pooping!

[@LampDoesVideogame]

Olivia, your videos are second only to Hank's. Thanks for being an awesome host!

[@MrIncorr3ct]

What you didnt mention is that parrotfish droppings are sand. They cant digest the coral they ingest so they excrete the white sand which makes up the beautiful coral beaches. This makes them vital for the species that rely on the beaches, including tourists who visit the beaches, and also for the tourism related income

[@InformationBlast]

Who knew elephant poop was so important for life

[@JoeCrush_]

Information Blast Poo for the win baby

[@vasectomyfail442]

Elephant Poo 2020!

[@InformationBlast]

Youknowmyname it's really that great

[@InformationBlast]

Vasectomy Fail sounds like some social media fad that will gain a lot of momentum then die quickly

[@qhack]

Only for Bear Grilis

[@williamdevane88]

Not technically an animal, but tacos are pretty important

[@Leonj2932]

William Devane eeyyy

[@rosadiamonds2204]

Taco's are most certainly an animal.

[@theincarnationofboredom207]

Depends if they have meat in them.

[@jaschabull2365]

Tako are definitely an animal. And they matter quite a bit (certainly to me).

[@aaronmtzs1]

If you eat them in México they're rich in bacteria

[@alexrobins1178]

I have a pet parrot fish and shes like 10 years old and still kickin

[@frankschneider6156]

without legs ? How is she doing that ?

[@theincarnationofboredom207]

I have a couple of goldfish at about the same age, mate.

[@worthyisback5652]

has she died?

[@ScienceByMike]

Very interesting. Can there be smaller keystone species that keep a microenvironment stable?

[@user-kl9ej6bi4g]

BEES...wonder why she didn't mentioned it

[@TheJOVVA]

Congratulations on yet another super interesting video! You are relatively new to SciShow, but your videos are top quality. Really good research and a strong presentation speed. Keep up the good work!

[@dill5597]

97 dislikes...... I know who is host xD

[@AGoldSoldier]

Local Toast What? So people aren't allowed to have opinions? It's called a dislike button for a reason, if you don't like the video, you click the button to let youtube know you didn't like the video. Don't get me wrong, I like Olivia, but that doesn't mean I should impose my opinions on others that DON'T like her.

[@JackOfAllTrades0404]

BTDcraft wait I'm new, why don't people like this host?

[@ikerants745]

Cheesus no reason… people are just very picky😕

[@checksum00]

I won't enter in the physical appearances controversy even if I agree with them because I think there are more important thing at play here. She is a terrible terrible host. It has gotten better but she is far far far away from making the video enjoyable for me. Watching a video hosted by her is a net negative in my day. She is meek, has the mannerism of a 11-year-old giving out a scientific report in from of a class, doesn't seems to be able to form a complete sentence without requiring to jump cut (I'll agree that scishow overuse jump cut but it seems way worse with her), swing her hands around and around throughout the video yet her body is awfully stiff, speak slowly like a valley girl that smoked way too much weed. She has basically 0 charisma. What I find the most troubling was that when Hank did an interview with her before hiring her (somehow), she was totally natural and didn't exhibit anyway of those traits. She is basically the total inverse of Emily Grably and I still don't get why she's there. Oh yeah... and there is the time where she totally overlooked super important anthropology concept/theories because she considered them "too racist". Yeah... no... fact and science are not racist. Unbiased opinion based on fact, research and evidence has nothing to do with racism, even if those fact highlight the traditional stereotype a race has.

[@jiohnne]

BTDcraft its sad when i like the topic but not the host

[@mangaluver1231]

Great job, Oliva! Keep up the good work!

[@AnnoyingSquib]

There is a small downside for the re population of wolves however. I have seen the numbers of mountain lions take a huge hit in their numbers since there is now major competition for food and they can still be hunted. Mountain lions are on the verge of becoming an endangered species in some areas. With wolves numbers back in the healthy range, we need to turn that same passion into saving and preserving the big cats. A start could be a temporary ban on hunting mountain lions until their numbers are better.

[@Niritus]

Hey SciShow! I really like your videos. Could you make a video about how MRI machines works? I'll really appreciate it.

[@unknowngamer7325]

but pulling away any of the stones will result in most dropping...

[@masonheipel]

Unknown Gamer I suspect this applies to the arch metaphor more than the video implies. e.g. wolves disappearing were bad but.. if elk disappeared so would wolves

[@KainYusanagi]

Unfortunately, that's the term that's been in use amongst scientific communities for decades. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_species and frankly, it DOES make sense. "While the keystone is under the least pressure of any of the stones in an arch, the arch still collapses without it."

[@masonheipel]

***** Hm, that's an interesting point about the pressure. I suppose that's applicable. But then, it's also true that the keystone will fall if /any/ of the stones below it are removed. It's just that the pressure of those higher up make it harder to remove the lower stones. Lol. I think the metaphor is falling apart.

[@asielsmith6007]

+Kain yusanagi Very good point

[@KainYusanagi]

Mason Heipel Well, if you think of it as a wide arch with big stones, sure. But imagine a tight one of small stones that are all near their crushing weight capacity, with only the keystone being large. Take out one of the smaller, different-sized stones in the arch, and it'll shift, but it won't fully collapse, either. It'll just list to the side, pressing down on the remainder of the stones on that side more and more as eventually other stones crack and shatter and fall out of the pile, until eventually the entire arch falls apart- unless more stones of any of the pre-existing types, including a re-introduction of the now-missing stone type are added to reinforce it. Sometimes it'll take many smaller stones (representing when a species' population explodes in an area to fill an ecological niche that is now empty, say due to overhunting) or other times just one single stone with some fresh mortar that needs a bit of time to cure, but is still stable as is(as when you reintroduce a species that had been extinct into the ecological framework that the arch- and the video- describes; takes a bit of time for a previously extinct population to return to a state of ecological equilibrium, after all).

[@AlexBallMusic]

Interesting stuff - thanks SciShow.

[@wtm7899ify]

Great episode!

[@xtvenom9266]

anybody else notice she jumps when she talks

[@andreee123123]

Yes omg. i thought it was cute

[@jaschabull2365]

"The wolves changed Yellowstone in large and often surprising ways, right down to how the rivers flow." So you're saying the Secwépemc story of a coyote redirecting rivers wasn't that farfetched after all?

[@AsadAli-jc5tg]

Jascha Bull ... No its far fetched.

[@Guest-xz1pl]

@@AsadAli-jc5tg actually its not do some research idiot

[@jackjmaheriii]

Thr reason why Olivia gets more dislikes is because she's a terrible host!!! Emily Graslie didn't have that problem when she worked for SciSho so wasn't reviled. Olivia has gotten better but she still by far the weakest host. She doesn't speak with confidence and her voice waivers like she's about to cry. Even her posture and mannerisms don't support the format. She's not an 11-year-old delivering a school report, she's a professional Internet personality. She needs to start acting like it.

[@LJdaentertainer]

you tell'em Jack! +1

[@Exunary]

I disagree, she's a great host, the matter is subjective and those that complain have chosen to feel that way about Olivia. Grow up

[@AngelEmfrbl]

Jack Maher I like her, she feels more human then many

[@jackjmaheriii]

Do you honestly think she's a great host? Or even a good one? When you see her standing up there does it look like she's enjoying herself? She's obviously uncomfortable and unhappy. Now, if you are also unhappy, I can see how watching her suffer every week might make you feel connected to her. But that doesn't mean that she's good at reading copy. Or that she's energizing the community to care about the things she cares about. Which is the job of the host... And she's failing miserably.

[@analopes7825]

Emily got offensive comments as well when collaborating...she even made a video about it..go check it out, it is enlightening.

[@seankraus5246]

very good vid. thanks team:-)

[@PFgambit]

Thanks for sharing the field of conservation biology!

[@quibily]

Love videos like this! Conservationists should explain this in their anti-extinction media. That species going extinct do, in fact, affect us!

[@fredericsauriol3594]

loved your show, great

[@ziploc53]

Thank you Olivia for the information.

[@coldsobanoodle7407]

Bring wolves back to the rest of America! It will help balance the deer population!

[@coldsobanoodle7407]

CokeOr Pepsi Well in cities the deer population isn't as rampant, in forested areas where we exterminated them the deer population is destructive. Then again wolves can be dangerous to humans, but since it balances out the ecology in areas where they used to exist I wouldn't mind them.

[@CorwynGC]

Bring wolves back to the rest of America! It will help balance the human population!

[@frankschneider6156]

Wolves are harmless to humans, they are actually usually pretty afraid of that naked ape (rightfully I'd say). And even if they would attack, a healthy human would rather kill the wolf than the other way around. If you want to be afraid of something then be afraid of bears. Without a high impact rifle you are dead if he is hungry or in a bad mood, or just wants to play with dead things and there is absolutely no defense whatsoever. So being afraid of wolves is like being afraid of a house cat but ignoring the hungry tiger behind you.

[@coldsobanoodle7407]

Frank Schneider True that but in a pack they are pretty fierce. That is if you threaten their territory. There have been attacks reported albeit very few, and most with rabies... Holy crap if we could use our current understanding of genetics to alter the genetic code of a wolf to give it a rabies resistance it would be pretty much safe.... Well we still have problems with wolves eating domestic pets... And small human children... Anyways that is just natural selection! If the parents don't give a crap the wolves get free food (9/10 wolves don't recommend humans for this brand is a choking hazard for small puppies human brand is not responsible for any deaths from choking on human bones.)

[@coldsobanoodle7407]

Oh and it is true that humans kill more wolves than humans. Look at Idaho. There are billboards for companies that have a bounty on wolves. Don't do that to the fluffy creatures that can't give a single crap about humans.

[@frenchw1nter]

Hot tip, SciShow team - the colours in the thumbnail of this video make it look slightly "greyed out", like the colour that video thumbnails go when you've already watched them (and the word "watched" normally appears along the bottom). I had to do a double-take when I saw this video in my sub box, because for a second it seemed like I had already watched it. Wouldn't want to miss a good SciShow video just because of the thumbnail colour! If you read this, I hope it helps. DFTBA. :)

[@forrest_ation]

Really enjoyed this episode! 😄

[@tyrianagriffin1262]

Literally have an exam on this tomorrow. Thanks so much.

[@vaughnbocchino]

Always a fan of Olivia videos.

[@nestorv7627]

Vaughn Bocchino same

[@imagineabout4153]

Vaughn Bocchino would Smash

[@DarrenChen]

I really liked learning about the web of life ... can we get more episodes like this? Maybe about the Gaia theory or how public land management works? Thanks Olivia!

[@k0r0z1f]

Good video, great host, thanks SciShow!

[@Billnam691]

I think that Olivia adds something the others don't, she has that bounceness in her speech and her physical demeanor and for me it adds something that men don't often give, a different tone in her voice and that certain sort of excitement that only women can provide naturally, its a style that can make a story enjoyable and different, keep on going forward Olivia.

[@aphrog649]

I love this host so much

[@frankschneider6156]

+Friedrich Nietzsche You can't. You are dead and died in an asylum more than 100 years ago.

[@ellenjarrard7920]

Does it bother anyone else that they alternate between the long and short intro for every video? Just pick one, boi.

[@phantasm1234]

Do you think you could do a video on cerebral aneurysms? I had one rupture at 19 and I think it would be great for people to know about them!

[@felixlagemann8109]

she improved her presenting style a LOT. Applause!

[@PikaPetey]

Pikachu are keystone species

[@steveyd101]

first of all, the hunting that killed most of the wolves was done by the government not hunters. And that wasn't by gun, it was by poison. Also, do we consider people as a species in the food chain?

[@hyrekandragon2665]

Yes homosapiens are in the food chain; they are at the very top of it in fact.

[@MegaWolffreak22]

steveyd101 I'm not 100% sure but i don't think so.

[@WTrewarthaJones]

I'm not sure if they are in the food chain to be honest since the animals and plants consumed by humans are not the same species as they once were. I'm not sure of this, though, I don't know where domestic animals come in when it comes to the food chain.

[@rolandngom5080]

William Trewartha-Jones homo sapiens are at the top of the food chain due to intelligence and technological advancements

[@frankschneider6156]

+roland ngom try telling that to a bear in a bad mood if you encounter him in the wild without a gun.

[@raduandrei7236]

One of the most interesting videos I have ever watched

[@Jen-ss8mc]

Animals are truly a blessing🙏

[@GPatriceW]

This is great, I love the content and the host!

[@KeystoneScience]

Ahh, keystones xD

[@NukaEatsPepeni]

More videos on animals please!

[@Jemima1377]

Excellent episode! ^_^

[@ScopeofScience]

Olivia, you're doing great - keep it up! On another note, I am a bit weary about the concept of a keystone species.. I mean, there are very few species that could be removed from an ecosystem without causing some larger cascade effect. Is there a statistical relationship that really shows there is a 'disproportionate' effect for these species considering their relative abundance? I'm skeptical, and I think I'm not alone. In fact, the Smithsonian published an article about this in the summer: www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/shrinking-keystone-180959748/ Been thinking recently about making a video about it... thoughts anyone?

[@MacCoalieCoalson]

The Scope of Science bees would collapse a significant amount of ecosystems.

[@redracerb18]

Do a Tesla mini-series covering all his inventions and discoveries. this post will be posted on all future videos until we get the mini-series.

[@2450logan]

Oh that sounds threatening trump might ban you for saying that

[@redracerb18]

Epicmonk117 I prefer the term Revolutionary

[@Epicmonk117]

redracerb18 The only thing revolutionary about him is how dicktatorially he's running the country. Just look at what he's doing: -EVERYTHING he's done has been through Executive Order, which COMPLETELY IGNORES the democratic process -He's not letting the government talk to the media -He fired the acting attorney general for not supporting his HIGHLY unconstitutional Muslim ban -He hasn't relinquished full control of his businesses, creating a conflict of interests

[@redracerb18]

Epicmonk117 i wasn't talking about trump. can we just end any talk about trum before it gets out of hand.

[@Epicmonk117]

redracerb18 I know the OP was about Tesla, but Logan brought up Trump, so I was taking the opportunity to bash Trump. From there, it's only hypothesis, but I thing you thought I was talking about Tesla when I was talking about Trump and then I thought you were talking about Trump when you were actually talking about Tesla. So yes, Tesla was a revolutionary, and yes, Trump is a dicktator (and yes, I intentionally added the K every time I spelled it).

[@alab127]

Great video!

[@wittybrickstudios2004]

Wow great presentation

[@nestorv7627]

am I the only one scrolling down until finding Solid banana's comment?

[@search895]

NestorV S why there are people scrolling for solid banana's comment around my anus

[@Smartfunnyandlazy]

Did this host kill your children? Then why all the hate? I seriously don't understand why I see insults to this person, who as far as I know, has done nothing wrong?

[@frankschneider6156]

I just don't have enough evidence yet, but I am pretty sure she is the zodiac killer.

[@dominicharris5851]

Because unfortunately there are too many basement dwelling individuals who only have the smallest connection with the real world. The mere idea of a FEMALE presenting a science show drives them to untold levels of madness.

[@abiku2923]

how much do you have to donate on patreon to have a question answered with an episode?

[@adamb1367]

Forgot to mention salmon the ultimate keystone species

[@jeonghoonchoi5046]

Be honest Your science teacher forced you to watch this

[@ChiragRajputS]

Nope

[@zay5351]

yep

[@GhoulishGrime]

No. I watch this for fun

[@iam5k2]

I watch this because my mid term exam is coming up

[@798Muchoman]

I really don't like this new style of editing. The cuts have become just a bit tighter, making it so the last sounds of a sentence/take are chopped off. It creates a really awkward feeling when not paired with a fast-talking host, like Hank. She's a good host but the editing is bringing her down.

[@DomyTheMad420]

that's a good point

[@channelfortheeveryman3139]

As someone has lived in the Caribbean, I can tell you that you left out an important detail in the parrot fish/coral reef debate. It’s shark hunting that is hurting the reefs. Sharks eat groupers. Groupers eat parrot fish. When there aren’t enough sharks, there are too many groupers eating parrot fish and this too few parrot fish. Parrot fish are not generally considered great eating-the people there fish them but not in great quantities.

[@xxkatastrophe]

I'm surprised to not see Pisaster on this list; going to school in the PNW, we certainly use it as an example a lot

[@merubindono]

*raises hand* Can humans be a keystone specie?

[@Peusterokos1]

Tofu Kingpin yes and no.

[@Woodledude]

Humans absolutely have the power to be a keystone species - After all, we have the power to create vast artificial habitats. Whether we are, however, is debatable. Many animals thrive in cities, but equally, animals suffer from loss of habitat, pollution, and the like. If we allowed or even placed more plant life in cities and made them more accessible to animals, we would certainly become a vital keystone species. But, that's up to us to actually do.

[@Mazaroth]

We are the sixth extinction cycle, the 7th will be our extinction.

[@typacsk]

Yes. Although we've certainly had negative effects on many ecosystems, there are others (temperate forests in Eurasia, tallgrass prairie and I think terra preta in the Americas) that have adapted to benefit from our "management." For a more modern example, there are a lot of species--native and introduced--that live at high densities in human-altered agricultural or suburban areas: deer, corvids, blackbirds, mesopredators like skunks and raccoons... Now the big question: is this a good or a bad thing? I really don't know if there's an answer to that.

[@Guest-xz1pl]

@@typacsk no cause animals would be better without us. Look what we do is we destroy something then fix it. 90% of the time not fixing it. So isnt it better if we didn't destroy anything

[@swaggervitamins]

This is my favorite host. All are good but she seems more passionate

[@ellenjarrard7920]

Comment ratio: 50%- Hating on the host 20%- Spam 15%- Responding to these comments 10%- Why are/is there (topic of the video) around my anus? 5%- Actual scientific stuff

[@metro-_-281]

nahh this is the best vid to explain keystone species

[@ConiferGrower]

That keystone species really tied the ecosystem together, did it not?

[@rottenpoet6675]

I love this woman :D if you dont like her it doesnt mean you have to give thumbs down...gave a like because of animals who keep the ecosystem going...unlike the humans who destroy everything...

[@Domdrok]

I would enjoy another video on keystone species.

[@phoule76]

while snorkelling in the Philippines I observed lots of beautifully colored parrotfish, and I noticed the other fish seemed to attack them all the time... I could hear their chewing sounds underwater as they ate the algae from the coral, perhaps that noise annoyed the hell out of the other fish?

[@skyr8449]

I think this host is starting to get a little bit better, it would be nice if they had started out with someone who is better at speaking, it really does have nothing to do with gender, there are plenty of crashcourse people who are female and nobody cares, but her voice acting has been pretty bad, although I do think it's getting a little better.

[@Silverizael]

"there are plenty of crashcourse people who are female and nobody cares" Which means you purposefully don't pay attention every time there is a new female host for any of the crashcourse or scishow shows. People always, always complain about a female host in the comments.

[@BlackBobby69]

Hmm, strange. I can usually stomach her episodes since I found out that putting the video on 1.25 speed irons out some of her annoying pitch changes, but this particular video felt rather bad for me. I hope I'm wrong and she is indeed improving.

[@xxXthekevXxx]

"Keystone Spee-shees"

[@professorwho6315]

Am I the only one who likes Olivia? Damn there's so much hate for her here.

[@RickySTT]

Not only that, parrotfish are essential to tourist economies. All that white Caribbean beach sand is essentially parrotfish poop.

[@nillylikechill]

Don't hate the metaphor, that's why it's a metaphor. Additionally, being from Montana, we have learned a lot about the "wolves in Yellowstone" predicament. Not only has it affected the ecosystem within Yellowstone, but the surrounding area well, (i.e. Ranch land and national forest)

[@rx3rotary]

I'm this close to unsubbing because Sci Show is not listening to it's viewers. Get rid of this boring, monotonous "presenter". No one can stand listening to her. Just look at each video where she's hosting vs when the other guys are hosting: She gets like 100x the number of dislikes. Your viewers are telling you she's crap, so either lose her or your viewers. Your Choice!

[@ihartevil]

thx for another amazingly ha bisky vid i really love these

[@redlinerer]

yay :) I love good news

[@letopizdetz]

i really like the information this channel puts together but i honestly can't stand her voice, every other person you've had on was great but she just sounds like she's trying way too hard to sound quirky... and enunciates weird parts of a sentence.

[@Humble_Merchant]

Stop with the unprofessional nose ring already!

[@jayswuid]

Wow. The first one was on the Living Environment Regents Jan 2017 this year. Cool.

[@44godson]

Some will, or will never know how important keystone species affect us all. From predation all that way to how things are influenced by succession as well.

[@runklestiltskin_2407]

Amazing complexity.

[@sagarbaishya8585]

cool info

[@Finkelfunk]

Yey, Olivia! \o/

[@brygrisky5609]

Why does she do all the most interesting topics

[@loopslytle]

Thanks Olivia.

[@Elfos64]

Everything is connected to everything else in some remote way or another, intelligence is about figuring out what those connections are.

[@jcortese3300]

Almost her vantablack shirt, but not quite. :-) I think the whole thing is that there are arches on arches, in every conceivable direction. You remove one keystone, and that arch goes, then a species near the base of that arch may function as a keystone in another arch, and so on ...

[@CrankyPantss]

Interesting video, Olivia.

[@myrusEW]

I just dislike because I don't like her voice or her face. You can get mad, that's fine. But, that's your right, just like not liking this person is my right. If they showed who was hosting, I'd not watch, and therefore, not dislike.

[@TheFlamingdragon2]

chill foo, he's saying a opinion that doesn't talk shit about the host. nothing wrong with say you don't like a host.

[@Exunary]

The fact that you don't like her is up to you entirely, there is nothing wrong with her and how she hosts, it's a nit picky thing you do, and you're the only one that loses on it.

[@meh-heh9704]

Exunary "there is nothing wrong with her" so... that's a fact?

[@lolas.7024]

+Chris Legaspi I find it amusing how her appearance is so important to you, talk about shallow lmao! you guys who dont like her can get mad, but not liking shallow fools is my right ^_^

[@myrusEW]

Commander Shepard It's a show. On KZbin. I think looks are pretty important for a website dedicated to videos. Looks are important to mostly everyone, and especially online, where you're allowed to pick and choose what you see. How many successful KZbin channels have conventionally "ugly" hosts(that show their face)? Not a lot. How many advertisements use conventionally "ugly" people? Nearly 0. Why? Because looks are an important part of human life.

[@fixdelythings]

I'm in love with you since the Meme Science .

[@Space_Bones]

It's funny, the Yellowstone Wolf thing was part of the PSAT this year (Not sure if I was allowed to say that)

[@eidolor]

Yaasss Olivia!

[@michaelwalton4017]

I'm in love!😋💓