NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A keystone species is often, but not always, a predator. Just a few predators can control the distribution and population of large numbers of prey species. The entire concept of keystone species was founded on research surrounding the influence of a marine predator on its environment.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer and Explanation: The correct option is b. In communities, a predator can increase the species diversity by consuming the dominant species (prey) in that community.

Detailed explanation-3: -Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. 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.

Detailed explanation-4: -Keystone species maintain the local biodiversity of an ecosystem, influencing the abundance and type of other species in a habitat. They are nearly always a critical component of the local food web.

Detailed explanation-5: -By feeding on the dominant species in a community, keystone predators serve to sustain species variety by ensuring that the dominant predators do not completely wipe out the various species. Therefore, the correct answer is (b) prey on the community’s dominant species.