Asked by rachel

Explain what makes the starfish a keystone species in 4-5 sentences

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Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance, and certain starfish act as keystone predators. For example, Pisaster ochraceus in rocky intertidal zones preys on mussels and other dominant space-holding organisms, preventing them from monopolizing substrate. When these starfish are removed, mussels rapidly overrun the habitat, crowding out many other species and sharply reducing biodiversity. Thus starfish maintain community structure and ecosystem function by controlling competitive dominants despite being relatively low in biomass.