NEET Class neet Answered

Within biological communities, some species may be important in determining the ability of large number of other species to persist in the community. It has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. These crucial species are known as key stone species. A keystone species holds the ecosystem together. It controls the functioning of the ecosystem by keeping populations in check, or by creating multiple niches for other organisms through its activities. Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche. Without a keystone species, an ecosystem destabilizes and will collapse.