Question
Which is most likely a keystone species?(1 point)
Responses
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams
feral cats, which hunt a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, rodents, and insects
deer, which eat a variety of plants, including shrubs and young trees, and are consumed by large predators like mountain lions, wolves, and bears
cane toads in Australia, which were introduced to eat cane beetles, but eat anything and survive in various habitats
Responses
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams
feral cats, which hunt a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, rodents, and insects
deer, which eat a variety of plants, including shrubs and young trees, and are consumed by large predators like mountain lions, wolves, and bears
cane toads in Australia, which were introduced to eat cane beetles, but eat anything and survive in various habitats
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most likely keystone species among the options provided is **wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams**.
Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance. Wolves in this scenario play a critical role in controlling the elk population, which in turn affects the vegetation, specifically willows. This cascading effect demonstrates how wolves help maintain the ecological balance within their ecosystem, making them a classic example of a keystone species.
Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance. Wolves in this scenario play a critical role in controlling the elk population, which in turn affects the vegetation, specifically willows. This cascading effect demonstrates how wolves help maintain the ecological balance within their ecosystem, making them a classic example of a keystone species.