Use the image below to answer the question.

Question

The plants are eaten by consumers at the first level, such as a mouse, grasshopper, whiptail, frog, squirrel, and deer. The consumers at the second level, such as ringtail, eagle, and pine marten eat the consumers at the first level. The consumers at the third level, such as wolf, mountain lion, and bobcat eat the consumers at the second level. Some of the consumers at the first level are also eaten by consumers at the third level.



Of the predators in the image, which one is most likely a keystone species?

Answer 1

The mountain lion is most likely a keystone species in this ecosystem. Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance, and the removal of a keystone species can have significant effects on the entire ecosystem. In this case, the mountain lion, as a top predator, plays a crucial role in controlling the population of animals at the second and first levels of the food chain, helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.