A species that interacts in critical ways with many other elements of an ecosystem is called a ___________ species.
A)predatory
B)keystone
C)primary
D)dominant
E)succeeding

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A keystone species has a disproportionately large impact on an ecosystem relative to its abundance, meaning that its presence or absence can significantly affect the structure and function of the ecosystem as a whole. In contrast, a predatory or primary species may interact with other organisms but may not necessarily have as critical a role in maintaining the overall health and stability of the ecosystem. Dominant species are those that are most abundant or have the highest biomass in a given area, but again, this does not necessarily mean they are critical to the functioning of the ecosystem. Succeeding species are those that replace or follow other species in a given area over time, but this term does not capture the idea of critical interactions with other elements of the ecosystem.

A Species That Interacts in Critical Ways with Many Other