Keystone Species Flashcards

1
Q

Keystone species

A

-could be any organism
- exert very strong control over environment of other species in a community and changes in their numbers have many effect on food chains and webs

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2
Q

Biodiversity

A

describes the variety and variability of all living organisms within a given ecological area
-vital to maintaining life on earth and to ensuring a clean, safe, and sustainable environment

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3
Q

Species richness

A

-measure of the number of different types of species in an area
- a large number of different species in a habitat represents a higher species richness

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4
Q

Species evenness

A
  • measure of the relative abundance of each species in an area
  • describes how even the species are distributed in a particular ecological area
  • more evenly represented species (evidenced by similar population size) illustrate a higher species evenness
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5
Q

List 3 organisms that are keystone species
explain why

A

Grey wolves
Beavers
Bumble Bees
Prairie dogs
Sea otters
Saguaro cactus

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6
Q

Why are Grey wolves keystone species

A
  • top level predator, whose presence has a ripple effect on the rest of its ecosystem
  • help keep deer and elk pop. in check, preventing them from overgrazing on tree saplings
  • allows development of saplings into large trees, whose root systems prevent riverbank erosion
  • benefit to other predator populations, their uneaten food scraps help strengthen the food supply for bears, coyotes, and eagles
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7
Q

Explain what a higher index value represents

A

corresponds to a greater degree of biodiversity (high richness and evenness)
suggests a stable site

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8
Q

Explain what a lower index value represents

A

corresponds to a lesser degree of biodiversity (low richness and evenness)

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9
Q

Why are bumble bees keystone species

A
  • bees support the reproduction of as much as 90% of the worlds flowering plants
  • create seeds and fruits that feed wildlife such as songbirds and grizzly bears
  • without bees, many plant species would become extinct, as would the animals that feed on those plants, soon after carnivores would have nothing to eat
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10
Q

Why are prairie dogs keystone species

A
  • support many other species
  • serve as a food source for coyotes, eagles, foxes, hawks, and black-footed ferrets
  • they maintain the health of arid grasslands by churning, aerating, and fertilizing soil as they create vast and intricate underground colonies
  • their burrows provide shelter for animals like rattlesnakes, burrowing owls, and jackrabbits
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