What are keystone Species?

keystone species are either a plant or animal that has a large influence on many other species in an ecosystem.

Location

The Jaguar is found primarily in South and Central America.

They reside throughout Mexico, south to paraguay, and northern argentina.

They are especially found in the remote regions of the Amazon Basin.

Jaguars are also found in Southern USA, particularly Arizona, New Mexico, and texas.

 

Prey

The jaguar finds its prey in mainly rivers as they are good swimmers.​

Threats

Jaguars are hunted for their fur, which is seen as valuable. 

Their prey consists of fish, eggs, frogs, and turtles.

They also eat larger animals such as deer, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, and tapirs.

Ranchers kill them because they also prey on their livestock.

Jaguars and their habitats are being destroyed by human activity such as burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, and landscape reconstruction.

The Jaguar in the Ecosystem

Jaguars have an important role in the ecosystem. They are carnivores and because of that, their diets consist of various animals. Jaguars are apex predators which means that they are at the top of the food chain which no other creatures prey. Jaguars are able to control populations of prey by hunting them. Since they feed on a vast range of animals, they create a balanced environment. Jaguars will even eat sick or dead animals which, in turn, disease and parasites will not spread.

 Some direct effects of their behavior on an ecosystem are that they feed on sick and dead animals which will stop the spread if disease. They also keep the herbivores from overeating.

 Some indirect effects of their behavior on an ecosystem are that when they feed on the herbivores, the prey will not eat as much plants thus allowing for plants to grow and produce oxygen in a habitat.

The Jaguar Out of the Ecosystem

If jaguars were to be removed from the ecosystem, jaguars wouldn't be able to hunt herbivorous animals from overeating plants.This would cause vegetation, which supports insects in a habitat, to be eliminated. Those insects are for feeding birds and building up soil as decomposers by encouraging organic material decay. If the soil were to be compromised, other plants can suffer. The process of plants using sunlight to make food essentially cleans the air and affects even the humidity and temperature of a habitat overall. The loss of an apex predator such as the jaguar would weaken an entire ecosystem completely.

Pictures of Jaguars

Works Cited

images

​​​​- http://cutebabywallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Baby-jaguar-on-tree-hd-wallpaper-free.jpg

- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Standing_jaguar.jpg

- http://assets.worldwildlife.org/photos/1679/images/hero_full/Responsible_Forestry_8.10.2012_​​Biodiversiry_Loss_HI_7474.jpg?1345600687​

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- Jaguar. New York, NY: Exeter, 1983. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. Happy Hollow, 1983. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
- "Jaguar (Panthera Onca)." Wild Cats Magazine. Wild Cats World, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
-"Jaguar." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
- "Threats to Jaguars." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 09 Mar. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
-Vigil, Sandy. "What Do Jaguars Do All Day?" Animals - Pets on Mom.Me. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.