Question
Which predator is most likely a Keystone species a. Mountain lion b. Ringtail c. pine Marten . d frog.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Among the options provided, the **mountain lion** (a) is most likely a keystone species. Keystone species are those that have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance. Mountain lions play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by controlling prey populations, such as deer, which in turn affects vegetation and the overall health of the ecosystem.
In contrast, the other options—ringtail, pine marten, and frog—while they may also have important ecological roles, typically do not exert the same level of influence on their ecosystems as mountain lions do.
In contrast, the other options—ringtail, pine marten, and frog—while they may also have important ecological roles, typically do not exert the same level of influence on their ecosystems as mountain lions do.