Explain how an ecological community structure could be affected by the removal of a keystone species.

a. «keystone species» have a main/disproportionate role in the maintenance of the structure of a community ✔

b. not necessarily top predator/most abundant species
OR
affect other organisms even if they have a small biomass/productivity ✔

c. may impact a top-down/bottom-up control ✔

d. «if removed» cause increase in populations of secondary consumers and decrease of primary consumers ✔
OWTTE

e. «if removed» may cause loss of balance in food chain/community ✔

f. «if removed» may cause «drastic» loss of biodiversity
OR
extinction of species ✔

g. example of named keystone species ✔
eg: honey bees

h. example of role in the environment where they are found ✔
eg: pollinate flowers

i. example of change if removed ✔
eg: plant reproduction is reduced

This question can be answered by referring to one specific species