Explain the concept of keystone species and give an example.

Explain the concept of keystone species and give an example.

The concept of keystone species refers to a particular species within an ecosystem that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment compared to its abundance. These species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and stability of the ecosystem.

An example of a keystone species is the sea otter in the kelp forest ecosystem. Sea otters feed on sea urchins, which are herbivores that graze on kelp. If the sea otter population declines, the sea urchin population can increase rapidly, leading to overgrazing of kelp forests. This can result in the destruction of the kelp habitat, affecting the entire ecosystem. Therefore, the sea otter acts as a keystone species by controlling the sea urchin population and preserving the health and diversity of the kelp forest ecosystem.