Foundation Species

What is a Foundation Species? 

A foundation species refers to any species that has a large contribution towards creating and maintaining habitats that support other species. Without the presence of foundation species in an ecosystem, many other species couldn’t sustain their habitat.

Foundation species are sometimes referred to as ‘Ecosystem Engineers‘.

Examples of Foundation Species are; Corals, Earthworms, Beavers and many more!

Example of a Foundation Species: 


Coral are very unique species and one of the most thought-of species for this type of example. Corals produce reef structures in marine ecosystems that provide a huge range of species with habitats, protection against predation and breeding grounds. Without Corals, these type of marine ecosystems would not be sustainable.

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