Answer :
The term "keystone" is used to describe the role that these species play, as they are considered to be the "keystone" or central element that holds the ecosystem together.
A keystone species is a species that plays a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity and stability of an ecosystem.
A keystone species is characterized by its ability to have a disproportionately large impact on the ecosystem relative to its abundance. For example, a keystone predator like a sea otter feeds on sea urchins, which in turn graze on kelp forests. Without the sea otter, the sea urchins would overpopulate and destroy the kelp forests, which would have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.
On the other hand, a foundation species refers to a species that creates or modifies habitats and creates new opportunities for other species to live in. A foundation species can be a plant that creates a canopy that provides shade and shelter for other organisms, or an animal that digs burrows that provide homes for other species.
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Final answer:
A keystone species is one whose presence is key to maintaining biodiversity within an ecosystem and to upholding an ecological community's structure.
Explanation:
Keystone Species
A keystone species is one whose presence is key to maintaining biodiversity within an ecosystem and to upholding an ecological community's structure. The intertidal sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, of the northwestern United States is a keystone species. Studies have shown that when this organism is removed from communities, populations of their natural prey (mussels) increase, completely altering the species composition and reducing biodiversity. Another keystone species is the banded tetra, a fish in tropical streams, which supplies nearly all of the phosphorus, a necessary inorganic nutrient, to the rest of the community. If these fish were to become extinct, the community would be greatly affected.
