High School

What is a keystone species? Why are keystone species important? Give an example.

Answer :

Final answer:

A keystone species has a significant impact on maintaining the balance and biodiversity of an ecosystem. Examples include the intertidal sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, and the banded tetra fish.

Explanation:

A keystone species is one whose presence has inordinate influence in maintaining the prevalence of various species in an ecosystem, the ecological community's structure, and sometimes its biodiversity. For example, the intertidal sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, is a keystone species in the northwestern portion of the United States. Studies have shown that when this organism is removed from communities, mussel populations (their natural prey) increase, which completely alters the species composition and reduces 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.

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Answer:Key stone

Explanation:

Keystone species hold together the complex web of relationships in an ecosystem. They can be animals, plants or microorganisms. Examples of keystone species include starfish, sea otters, wolves and elephants.