Keystone Species Flashcard

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

Front

Give an example of a keystone species.

Back

Sea otter.

Front

What is a trophic cascade?

Back

A series of secondary extinctions triggered by the primary extinction of a key species in an ecosystem.

Front

What role do decomposers play in a food web?

Back

They break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

How can the removal of a keystone species affect an ecosystem?

Back

It can cause a trophic cascade and disrupt the ecosystem balance.

Front

What is the definition of biodiversity?

Back

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Front

What is an ecological community?

Back

A group of interacting species living in the same area.

Front

What is the role of primary producers in an ecosystem?

Back

They produce their own food through photosynthesis and are the base of the food web.

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Front

What happens when a top predator is removed from an ecosystem?

Back

It can lead to an increase in the population of herbivores, which may overgraze plants.