Q198 / 200 · NEET 2004 · Zoology

What is a keystone species?

  • Correct answer
    A
    A species which makes up only a small proportion of the total biomass of a community, yet has a huge impact on the community's organization and survival
  • B
    A common species that has plenty of biomass, yet has a fairly low impact on the community's organization
  • C
    A rare species that has minimal impact on the biomass and on other species in the community
  • D
    A dominant species that constitutes a large proportion of the biomass and which affects many other species.

Solution

A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.

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