A "keystone species" is a term used in ecology to describe a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. These species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.

A classic example of a keystone species is the sea otter. Sea otters prey on sea urchins, controlling their population. If the sea otter population declines, there would be an overabundance of sea urchins which would lead to the overgrazing of kelp forests. Kelp forests are important habitats for many other marine species, so the decline in sea otters would have a knock-on effect on the whole ecosystem.

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A "keystone species" is a term used in ecology to describe a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. These species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.

A classic example of a keystone species is the sea otter. Sea otters prey on sea urchins, controlling their population. If the sea otter population declines, there would be an overabundance of sea urchins which would lead to the overgrazing of kelp forests. Kelp forests are important habitats for many other marine species, so the decline in sea otters would have a knock-on effect on the whole ecosystem.

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A "keystone species" is a term used in ecology to describe a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. These species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community.

A classic example of a keystone species is the sea otter. Sea otters prey on sea urchins, controlling their population. If the sea otter population declines, there would be an overabundance of sea urchins which would lead to the overgrazing of kelp forests. Kelp forests are important habitats for many other marine species, so the decline in sea otters would have a knock-on effect on the whole ecosystem.

Define the term "keystone species" and provide an example.

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