Keystone Species and Trophic Cascades

What is an example of a keystone species?

• Sea otters

• Dolphins

• Sharks

• Goldfish

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

• Prey populations can increase unchecked, leading to overgrazing or overconsumption of vegetation, which can degrade the ecosystem.

• The ecosystem becomes more balanced as other species thrive without competition.

• Vegetation flourishes due to the absence of predation, leading to increased biodiversity.

• The removal has no significant impact on the ecosystem's health.

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What role do predators play in an ecosystem?

• Predators help manage prey populations, which in turn controls the populations of producers (vegetation) in the ecosystem, maintaining balance.

• Predators primarily compete with other predators for food resources.

• Predators have no significant impact on the ecosystem's balance.

• Predators only affect the population of herbivores, not vegetation.

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What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

• A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.

• A food chain includes only plants, while a food web includes both plants and animals.

• A food chain is a diagram that shows the energy flow, while a food web is a list of organisms.

• A food chain is a type of food web that only includes herbivores.

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Why is it important to protect keystone species?

• They are the most abundant species in an ecosystem.

• They help maintain ecosystem balance and health, as their loss can lead to significant ecological consequences.

• They are the largest species in an ecosystem.

• They are the most colorful species in an ecosystem.

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How do beavers act as ecosystem engineers?

• They create dams that alter water flow, creating wetlands that support diverse plant and animal life, thus enhancing biodiversity.

• They primarily feed on tree bark, which helps in tree growth.

• They build nests that provide shelter for various species, but do not affect the ecosystem significantly.

• They migrate to different areas, which helps in spreading seeds and plants.

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What is an ecosystem engineer?

• A species that creates, modifies, or maintains habitats, significantly influencing the structure of the ecosystem.

• A type of organism that only consumes resources without affecting the environment.

• A species that only exists in aquatic environments and has no impact on land ecosystems.

• An organism that is at the top of the food chain and regulates the population of other species.

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What is the impact of invasive species on trophic cascades?

• Invasive species can enhance native biodiversity by providing new habitats.

• Invasive species can disrupt trophic cascades by outcompeting native species, altering food webs, and leading to declines in native biodiversity.

• Invasive species have no significant impact on trophic cascades.

• Invasive species only affect the population of other invasive species.

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What is a keystone species?

• A species that has a minor effect on its environment

• A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance

• A species that is the most abundant in an ecosystem

• A species that is always at the top of the food chain

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What is a trophic level?

• A level in a food chain representing the flow of energy and nutrients.

• A type of ecosystem where organisms live.

• The total number of species in an environment.

• A measure of the biodiversity in a habitat.

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