Which species can drastically alter their environment, promoting new growth and biodiversity?

Ecosystem engineers are species that significantly modify their environment in ways that create new habitats and promote biodiversity. They can do this by altering the structure of their environment, such as the way beavers build dams to create ponds or how corals form reefs. These changes can support a wide variety of other organisms, leading to increased biodiversity in the area.

For example, when beavers build a dam, they create a wetland habitat that can support many species of plants and animals that wouldn’t otherwise thrive in a river or stream setting. Similarly, coral reefs provide essential habitats for numerous marine life, and their growth encourages diverse ecosystems.

In contrast, dominant species refer to those that are most abundant or have the greatest biomass in an ecosystem, but they do not necessarily change the environment in ways that enhance biodiversity. Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems and outcompete native species, often leading to decreased biodiversity rather than promoting it. Endangered species are those at risk of extinction and do not inherently modify their surroundings in a way that fosters new growth or biodiversity.