Biodiversity Review

Front

What is a keystone species?

Back

A species that helps to hold an ecosystem together.

Front

Why are some sharks considered a keystone species?

Back

They scare off smaller fish that may overgraze an area of sea grass.

Front

What is a pioneer species?

Back

The first species to populate an area after a disturbance.

Front

Which keystone species plays a vital role in the health of coastal kelp forests?

Back

Sea otters.

Front

What happens to native populations when invasive species grow quickly?

Back

They decline or become extinct due to the lack of predators.

Front

Define biodiversity.

Back

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Front

What is an ecosystem?

Back

A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

Front

What role do top predators play in an ecosystem?

Back

They help maintain the balance of species populations.

Front

What is an invasive species?

Back

A non-native species that spreads rapidly in a new environment.

Front

How do keystone species affect biodiversity?

Back

They help maintain the structure of an ecosystem, affecting many other species.