The Keystone Hypothesis Supposes That Community Services

Question

The keystone hypothesis supposes that community services
A) Are unrelated to species richness
B) Are related to species richness, but not in a predictable way
C) Plummet as soon as an important member of the community is removed
D) Decrease in a step-wise fashion as species richness decreases

Accepted Answer

The keystone hypothesis posits that certain species have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance. Removing such a keystone species can lead to significant changes in the community structure and function, often resulting in a decline in ecosystem services.