Question

A) Be able to discuss the various roles keystone species play in shaping their community’s structure

B) Define a foundation species

Answer 1

A) Species like foundation species and keystone species plays a very important role in formation of community structure. Keystone species define the ecosystem and it has very huge impact on environment . It keeps the ecosystem altogether.if there would be no keystone species , the ecosystem would have been populated by invasive species ,resulting in radicular changes in ecosystem. For example ,

ochre sea star ( a keystone species ) :

1. It always keeps a check on populations of mussels and barnacles.

2. It make sure that there is a healthy seaweed population and the organisms feeding upon it.

B) Foundation species , as the name suggests it is responsible for the foundation or the structure of community. Foundation species can occupy any trophic level in food web. Example : marine invertebrates, algae