A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when _______________.
A)pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations
B)it loses a keystone species or suffers a major climatic change
C)it has too many symbiotic relationships among species
D)it suffers a natural fire or flood
E)all invasive and exotic species are removed

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a community loses a keystone species or suffers a major climatic change, it can lead to a regime shift or phase shift - a state in which the community is locked into a new, stable state that is different from the previous one. This can have significant impacts on the functioning of the community and the services it provides. None of the other options listed are likely to result in a regime or phase shift.

A Community May Undergo a Regime Shift or a Phase