Keystone Species

An interconnected web of the flow of energy (and what eats what) through an ecosystem.

• trophic level

• trophic cascade

• food web

• food chain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Each step or level in a food chain or food web.

• trophic level

• trophic cascade

• food web

• food chain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A side-effect when a certain species that usually helps to keep the entire ecosystem balanced is reduced or removed. When their numbers are changed there is an ecological imbalance.

• trophic level

• trophic cascade

• food web

• food chain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An organism that is HUNTED by another organism.

• Predator

• Prey

• Predation

• Niche

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A keystone species that keeps populations under control by hunting. This also impacts other species further down the food chain.

• keystone predator

• keystone prey

• keystone ecosystem engineer

• keystone plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Starfish on shorelines will control mussels from overcrowding algae, limpets, anemones, and sponges by eating them. This helps maintain the biodiversity of the shore.

• predator

• prey

• plant

• ecosystem engineer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Choose all organisms associated with the trophic cascade in the pacific northwest Aleutian Islands.

• 
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• 
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Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following show indirect effects of one organism to the next?

• Bass to phytoplankton.

• Bass to minnows.

• Minnows to zooplankton.

• Zooplankton to phytoplankton.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Why did the vegetation on the Aleutian islands grow sparse?

• indirect negative impact of the fox population on the seabirds

• direct negative impact of the fox population on the seabirds

• direct positive impact of the seabirds on vegetation

• direct negative impact of the seabirds on the foxes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What did this picture tell James Estes when he dived into the water?

• There were no otters.

• The urchins ate the otters.

• The kelp ate the urchins.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4