Keystone Species

What is a keystone species?

• A species that is the most abundant in an ecosystem

• A species that has a crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions

• A species that is the largest in an ecosystem

• A species that is the smallest in an ecosystem

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What can happen to an ecosystem without keystone species?

• The ecosystem would remain the same

• The ecosystem would become more diverse

• The ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist

• The ecosystem would have more predators

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is often a characteristic of a keystone species?

• They are usually herbivores

• They are often predators

• They are always the largest animals

• They are always the smallest animals

What is an example of a keystone species mentioned in the text?

• Deer

• Rabbits

• Oysters

• Vultures

What effect does the disappearance of a keystone species have on the ecosystem?

• It causes a domino effect

• It has no effect

• It increases the population of predators

• It decreases the population of plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What happened to the biodiversity of the area when the oysters were removed?

• It increased.

• It decreased.

• It stayed the same.

• It fluctuated.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What role do sea otters play in the Pacific Northwest ecosystem?

• They eat kelp.

• They control the sea urchin population.

• They are prey for crabs.

• They burrow in the soil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is coral?

• A type of fish.

• A type of plant.

• A type of animal.

• A type of bird.

What happens to the savanna if elephants are not present?

• It becomes a forest.

• It becomes a desert.

• It becomes a lake.

• It becomes a mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Match the underlined word with its definition: crucial

• important

• chain reaction

• to do well

• species that naturally lives in a space

• large variety