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A keystone species is an organism that serves as a foundation for an entire food web of an ecosystem. If this organism were not present, the other species that depend on it would have to migrate elsewhere or die off.

What species in this video would you describe as a keystone species? Justify your answer.

Answer :

Final answer:

The intertidal sea star Pisaster ochraceus and the banded tetra are both keystone species, crucial for maintaining ecosystem structure and biodiversity in their respective habitats.

Explanation:

A keystone species is critical for maintaining the structure and biodiversity of an ecosystem. In the provided information, the intertidal sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, is cited as a keystone species in the northwestern United States due to its role in controlling mussel populations. Without the sea star, mussel numbers increase, resulting in a decrease in algae and a significant shift in the overall species composition, thereby reducing biodiversity. Another example of a keystone species is the banded tetra, which plays a pivotal role in tropical streams by supplying almost all of the necessary phosphorus to the ecosystem. The loss of banded tetras would greatly affect the aquatic community structure and biodiversity.

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