Use the image below to answer the question.

Question

The plants are eaten by consumers at the first level, such as a mouse, grasshopper, whiptail, frog, squirrel, and deer. The consumers at the second level, such as ringtail, eagle, and pine marten eat the consumers at the first level. The consumers at the third level, such as wolf, mountain lion, and bobcat eat the consumers at the second level. Some of the consumers at the first level are also eaten by consumers at the third level.



Of the predators in the image, which one is most likely a keystone species?

(1 point)
Responses

ringtail
ringtail

mountain lion
mountain lion

frog
frog

pine marten
pine marten
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Answer 1

The predator most likely to be a keystone species among the options provided is the mountain lion.

Keystone species are those that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance. They often maintain the structure of the ecosystem and help regulate populations of other species. Mountain lions, as apex predators, play a crucial role in controlling the populations of various herbivores and lower-level consumers, indirectly influencing the entire ecosystem.

While other species like the ringtail or pine marten may play important roles, they do not typically have the same level of ecosystem impact as a top predator like the mountain lion.