Ch #2 VWS 3 keystone species PDF

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Summary

3 keystone species Worksheet from Unit 1 with Kristin Jacobsen Flex....

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Bio 113, Conservation Biology and Society Illinois Central College

Video Keystone Species 1.

Name: Cara Pincock

What is the term keystone, in keystone species, actually based upon?

It is based on the keystone in an arch that is the stone at the top in the middle and is holding the entire arch together. 2.

What is the definition of “keystone species” given in the video?

In the video a keystone species is define as a species that has a large impact on their habitat given their size or numbers. 3.

The effects of a keystone species will “ripple” through an ecosystem creating a trophic _cascade_.

GRAY WOLVES 4.

Why did gray wolf numbers decline in Yellowstone National Park in the 1930s? The numbers dropped so much mostly due to hunting.

5.

When were gray wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park? Wolves were reintroduced in 1995.

6.

Briefly explain why the gray wolves of Yellowstone National Park are considered a keystone species. Wolves are considered a keystone species because of how much Yellowstone changed. Since wolves hunt the elk there, without the wolves the elk became much less cautious to the point they were eating so many plants by the river instead of being nomadic that the river changed which affected the beavers as well.

ELEPHANTS 7.

Briefly explain why elephants are considered a keystone species.

Elephants are considered a keystone species because of how they help control acacia trees which will typically dominant other plants. The trees they also knock down create homes for other animals such as lizards. And along with all the food they eat, their dung is also an ecosystem by itself due to how rich in nutrients it is.

Bio 113, Conservation Biology and Society Illinois Central College

PARROTFISH 8. Briefly explain why parrotfish are considered a keystone species. Parrotfish are keystone species because how they clean algae off of coral, and without the algae being cleaned off the coral can be smothered and die which affects every animal that lives in the coral reef....