In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to eight after one species was removed. The species removed was likely a(n)
A)community facilitator.
B)keystone species.
C)herbivore.
D)resource partitioner.
E)mutualistic organism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the removal of one species caused such a significant reduction in the number of remaining species suggests that the removed species likely played a critical role in the ecosystem. Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their biomass or abundance. Their removal can have cascading effects throughout the food web and ecosystem. Therefore, the removed species was likely a keystone species.

In a Tide Pool, 15 Species of Invertebrates Were Reduced