Question

of the predators in the image which is most likely a keystone species
o pine marten
o frog
o mountain lion
o ringtail

Answer 1

Of the predators listed, the **mountain lion** is most likely a keystone species. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, and their presence affects many other organisms in the ecosystem. Mountain lions, by predating on herbivores such as deer, help to regulate their populations, which in turn affects vegetation and the overall health of the ecosystem. The other species mentioned—pine marten, frog, and ringtail—while they may be important in their own right, do not typically have the same wide-reaching impact as mountain lions.