Answer :
The key difference between a dominant species and a keystone species is that dominant species are the most abundant species in a community, whereas keystone species exert control through important roles or niches.
Additionally, the removal of a dominant species from a community has more impact than removing a keystone species. Dominant species alter the structure or dynamics of the environment, whereas keystone species are more successful at evading their predators and the impacts of disease. Overall, both dominant and keystone species play crucial roles in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem, but they do so in different ways.
A dominant species is a species that is the most abundant, widespread, and influential in a particular ecosystem or community. Dominant species typically have a significant impact on the structure and function of the ecosystem, and can often outcompete other species for resources such as food, water, and shelter.
Examples of dominant species in various ecosystems include:
In a tropical rainforest, the dominant species might be large canopy trees that provide shade and shelter for many other plants and animals.
In a coral reef ecosystem, the dominant species might be coral polyps, which provide the structural foundation for the reef and support a diverse array of other species.
In a grassland ecosystem, the dominant species might be large grazing herbivores such as bison or wildebeest, which shape the structure of the landscape through their grazing and trampling behaviors.
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionate impact on the structure and function of an ecosystem relative to its abundance. In other words, keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the balance and diversity of an ecosystem, and their presence or absence can have a cascading effect on the entire community.
The concept of keystone species was first introduced by ecologist Robert Paine, who studied the intertidal community of the Pacific Northwest. Paine observed that the removal of a single species, the starfish Pisaster ochraceus, caused a dramatic shift in the community, leading to an overgrowth of mussels and a decline in other species.
Examples of keystone species in various ecosystems include:
In a coral reef ecosystem, the keystone species might be parrotfish, which play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the reef by grazing on algae that can smother the coral.
In a grassland ecosystem, the keystone species might be prairie dogs, which create complex burrow systems that provide habitat for many other species and help to maintain the nutrient balance of the soil.
In a forest ecosystem, the keystone species might be wolves, which regulate the populations of prey species such as deer and elk, and also shape the physical structure of the landscape through their hunting behaviors.
In a freshwater ecosystem, the keystone species might be beavers, which create dams and ponds that provide habitat for many other species, and also help to regulate water flow and nutrient cycling.
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Dominant species are the most abundant and have a large impact due to their biomass.
Keystone species have a crucial role despite their low abundance and maintain the structure and balance of the ecosystem.
Dominant species are characterized by their high abundance or biomass in an ecosystem, and their presence significantly influences the structure and function of the community due to their sheer numbers. In contrast, keystone species are not necessarily abundant but play crucial roles in maintaining the structure and diversity of an ecosystem.
They often have a disproportionate impact on their environment relative to their abundance because of their specific ecological functions, such as predation, competition, or mutualistic relationships.
Removing a keystone species can lead to significant changes or collapse in the ecosystem, while the removal of a dominant species, though impactful, may not necessarily disrupt the community as drastically if keystone species are present.
