Answer :
Final answer:
A keystone species is pivotal in maintaining the ecological balance in its habitat, supporting biodiversity by playing a role that if removed, would dramatically alter the ecosystem.
Explanation:
A keystone species is one that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community and thereby supports the diversity and balance within the ecosystem. The intertidal sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, is an example of a keystone species in the northwestern United States.
When removed from its habitat, the mussel population increases, which then leads to a decrease in algae and a reduction in overall biodiversity. Similarly, the banded tetra, a tropical fish, is also considered a keystone species because it provides almost all of the phosphorus, a vital inorganic nutrient, to other community members.
The loss of keystone species such as these can greatly affect the ecological community structure and diversity.
Answer:
a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change
Explanation:
