National bison is always celebrated on the first Saturday in November. This national day celebrates and recognizes the importance of the American Bison. Now we may not have any here in Florida, but American Bison have played a fundamental role in the expansion and growth of the indigenous people’s populations here in the US- specifically in the Midwest. The indigenous relied on the bison populations (among other things) for food and resources. They would eat the meat the bison provided and utilize the fur for coats and shelters. Today their role is just as important for the ecosystem of the Great Plains here in the US. The bison help maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem by providing food and shelter to many organisms. The American Bison is considered a keystone species in the Great Plains based on the way they walk and move through their environment. The bison will move through their environment and help aerate the soil around them. This allows the growth of different species of plants within the environment. Their fur also provides a way to help distribute the seeds of native plants in the area. The seeds get caught on their fur coats and will get distributed as the bison roams around the environment. These are two of the many services that these animals provide for the grassland ecosystems they live in. The plants that grow and flourish because of them also provide food and shelter for other animals in the ecosystem.
While there are no bison here in southern Florida, the impact they have on their environment is important to recognize. Many different species here in Florida are also considered keystone species and are being threatened. Species like the gopher tortoise and American alligator here in the Everglades are examples of more local keystone species. Both of these species impact the environment around them in very specific ways that impacts the entire ecosystem. Below is an article that shows how important these native keystone species are to areas and why we need to protect them.
Native keystone trees, flowers and shrubs keep keep food web healthy (floridatoday.com)
