Which is most likely a keystone species?
a
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams
b
feral cats, which hunt a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, rodents, and insects
c
deer, which eat a variety of plants, including shrubs and young trees, and are consumed by large predators like mountain lions, wolves, and bears
d
cane toads in Australia, which were introduced to eat cane beetles, but eat anything and survive in various habitats
2 answers
The most likely keystone species in this scenario is option A, wolves in Yellowstone National Park. The presence of wolves affects the population of elk, which in turn affects the vegetation, specifically willows. The presence of willows provides habitat for beavers, which are important ecosystem engineers that create dams and modify their environment. Therefore, the presence of wolves has a cascading effect on the entire ecosystem, making them a keystone species.
wolves is right