What is a keystone species?
Q: What is a keystone species?
A: A keystone species is a species that has a big effect on its environment relative to its numbers, and the ecosystem depends on them.
Q: Why is a keystone species important in an ecosystem?
A: A keystone species is important in an ecosystem because it affects many other organisms in the ecosystem and the types and numbers of other species in the community.
Q: What happens to the mussel population if the sea star is removed from the ecosystem?
A: If the sea star is removed from the ecosystem, the mussel population explodes uncontrollably, and this drives out most other species.
Q: What happens to the urchin population if the sea star is removed from the ecosystem?
A: If the sea star is removed from the ecosystem, the urchin population grows likewise, and destroys coral reefs.
Q: What is the habitat for many hundreds of other species?
A: Living coral reefs are the habitat for many hundreds of other species.
Q: What are some other examples of keystone species?
A: Some other examples of keystone species are the sea otter, horseshoe crab, and wolves.
Q: Why do sea otters and kelp depend on each other?
A: Sea otters and kelp depend on each other because without the sea otter, sea urchins would destroy the kelp, and much else in the ecosystem.
