Which of these are considered keystone species
bees
cows
onions
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is bees.
A keystone species is one that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance or biomass. These species play critical roles in maintaining the structure and diversity of an ecosystem. In this case, bees are considered keystone species because they are vital for pollination. Pollination is a process that allows plants, including many crops, to reproduce. Without bees and other pollinators, plant species that depend on pollination for reproduction would struggle to survive, leading to a cascading effect on the food chain.
Bees’ role in pollination helps sustain not only the plants themselves but also the herbivores that depend on those plants, and ultimately, the predators that feed on herbivores. This interconnectedness makes bees essential for biodiversity and food security. The loss of bee populations could cause widespread disruption in ecosystems, affecting plant life and all the organisms that rely on plants for food.
On the other hand, cows and onions are not considered keystone species. While cows have a significant impact on the environment, particularly in agriculture, they do not play the same pivotal role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance as bees do. Similarly, onions, although important as a food source, do not exhibit the type of ecosystem-shaping influence that characterizes keystone species.
Keystone species are not always the most numerous or most visible organisms in an ecosystem, but their impact is crucial to the health and stability of their environment. In the case of bees, their absence would be felt throughout the ecosystem, whereas the absence of cows or onions would not cause the same level of disruption.