When sea otters are present in a kelp forest community, there are more than 12 species in the community. If sea otters are removed, there are 5-7 species that remain in the community. These data suggest that sea otters are:
A)a keystone species.
B)top predators.
C)primary consumers.
D)secondary consumers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the presence of sea otters is associated with a higher number of species in the kelp forest community implies that they are having a significant indirect effect on the ecosystem. This is consistent with the concept of a keystone species, which is a species that has a disproportionate impact on the structure and function of an ecosystem relative to its abundance. Removing a keystone species can cause a cascade of effects that alter the abundance or distribution of other species in the ecosystem. Therefore, sea otters are likely a keystone species in the kelp forest community.

When Sea Otters Are Present in a Kelp Forest Community