| There are numerous benefits to owning a | | | | population that has a huge impact on a natural |
| freshwater aquarium - both physical and | | | | habitat. Removing a keystone species from its |
| psychological. If you have read previous my | | | | environment results in an imbalance of that |
| articles, you are now familiar with those benefits. | | | | environment. |
| You may be surprised to hear that aquariums | | | | Keystone species are found by studying |
| offer benefits for the environment as well. | | | | interspecies relationships in a habitat. More |
| Unfortunately the benefits, though helpful, do not | | | | keystone species have been found in ponds, |
| outnumber the potentially negative impacts | | | | lakes, river, and inland seas than larger bodies of |
| aquariums have on the environment. | | | | water. It is difficult to say what keystone species |
| Freshwater aquariums do benefit environments to | | | | are being removed from larger bodies of water |
| an extent. Removal of some species can actually | | | | because the size and volume make it harder to |
| regulate natural habitats. For example, if some | | | | study interspecies relationships in order to |
| predators of smaller fish are removed from a | | | | determine what the keystone species are. |
| natural environment to be sold for aquariums, the | | | | However, ecologists do claim that keystone |
| smaller fish population will increase. However there | | | | species are definitely being taken away from their |
| is a difference between removal and depletion of | | | | natural environments, upsetting the balance of |
| a species-depleting and species entirely from an | | | | many ecosystems. For example, say a keystone |
| environment would set everything out of balance. | | | | species is a small fish that larger fish rely on as a |
| Freshwater aquariums are good for the | | | | food source. If the smaller fish population is |
| environment mainly via the education they | | | | depleted, the larger predators will die out. The |
| provide. Watching fish in an aquarium at home is | | | | coral reefs, already endangered, are also being |
| the easiest study you can do on interspecies | | | | affected. Divers are illegally harvesting coral to sell. |
| relationships. | | | | The more keystone species are removed, the |
| Unfortunately, usually through ignorance, | | | | more the balance of several ecosystems will be |
| aquariums are beginning to have more and more | | | | upset. |
| of a negative effect on the environment. It is not | | | | Do not let this shock you into not starting an |
| the actual aquariums that have a negative impact, | | | | aquarium! When you go to buy anything that is |
| but those who capture live specimens to sell for | | | | live such as fish and plants, ask the retailer if they |
| them. Though many fish and plants are bred in | | | | know whether it was bred in captivity for |
| captivity, many are still caught in the wild. There | | | | aquariums, or if it was captured. The more |
| are government regulations on harvesting fish for | | | | aquarists who buy fish and plants bred in captivity, |
| food, but not on harvesting for captivity. An | | | | the less illegal harvesting from natural ecosystems |
| increasing demand on fish for aquariums is | | | | will take place. Aquariums are still good for the |
| resulting in over-harvesting in some areas. | | | | environment because they help us to become |
| Ecologists claim that keystone species are being | | | | educated and appreciative of our planet. |
| removed. A keystone species is a species | | | | |