Ecosystem engineers are able to modify the surrounding environment, either by creating new habitats or modifying/destroying existing ones to adjust them to their needs. These species can significantly alter their environments, having a large impact on the species richness as well as modifying the availability of abiotic factors (e.g., water, space, etc) of a particular area. In certain environments, ecosystem engineers can even act as keystone species. Some examples of ecosystem engineers include, among others, beavers, woodpeckers, corals, etc.
