Answer :
Final answer:
A keystone species is one that plays a crucial role in its environment. An example is the sea otter, which controls sea urchin populations to prevent overgrazing of kelp. Without otters, the ecosystem could shift dramatically, showing the importance of keystone species.
Explanation:
In ecology, a keystone species is one that plays a uniquely critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community. Its effect is greater than would be expected based on its abundance or total biomass. An example of a keystone species would be the sea otter in the Pacific Northwest. Sea otters consume sea urchins, which are herbivores that eat kelp. Without otters to control their population, sea urchins can overpopulate and overgraze kelp, leading to a loss of kelp forests, which are an important community habitat for other marine species. If otters were removed, the habitat would likely shift to an urchin-dominated ecosystem, causing drastic changes in community structure and biodiversity.
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