A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when ______________
A) lose keystone species or suffer a major climatic change
B) all invasive and exotic species are removed
C) they suffer a natural fire or flood
D) pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations
E) have too many symbiotic relationships among species

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when it loses keystone species or suffers a major climatic change. Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the overall structure and function of an ecosystem. Their removal can lead to a cascading effect of ecological changes, potentially triggering a regime shift. Similarly, changes in the climate can alter the conditions required to sustain certain species and can disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem, leading to a phase shift.

A Community May Undergo a Regime Shift or a Phase