Wolves are the keystone species in this scenario. Keystone species are those that have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance. In the case of Yellowstone, the reintroduction of wolves helped to regulate the elk population, which in turn allowed willow trees to recover. This has had cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, including the increase in beaver populations.
Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. They began to hunt the abundant elk population, so elk numbers decreased. The elk carcasses provided food for other predators, like foxes, coyotes, and bears, so all of their populations increased. Elk used to overgraze on willow plants; now that willows are growing back, beaver numbers are increasing, because they prefer the slow-moving water that willows cause. Which of these species is a keystone species? (1 point) Responses wolves wolves willows willows bears bears elk
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1 answer