Question

1. Differentiate between a foundation species and a keystone species. Give an example of each.

2. What is an invasive species? Give an example.

2. What is a pioneer species, and under what circumstances are these species important?

Answer 1

1)Foundation species are the species that play a major role in creating and maintaining a habitat for other species.They exerts influence on maintaining biodiversity and they are most abundant too.They provide a support for other species in ecosysytem.Coral is a foundation species.Coral reefs produce habitats for other species.Trees in a forest are another example.Interaction between them and other species in an ecosystem is non-trophic.Because of this non-trophic effect,identification or detection is little harder.

Keystone species are the species that have strong effects on the composition of communities in the ecosysytem.They may not be visible in the system,but if they are removed will cause devasting effects on ecosystem.Humming birds,african elephants,flying fox,mangroove trees are some example of this species.They are also abundant and exert influence on maintaining biodiversity.

2)Invasive species can be of any type,like an amphibian,plant,insect,fish,fungus,bacteria or even an organisms seeds or eggs.It is not native to an ecosystem,it harms.They can harm the environment,economy or even human health.These species grow and reproduce quickly,and spread aggresively with potential to cause harm.They are primarily spread by human activities.

3)Organisms specifically adapted to colonise bare,lifeless areas and begin an ecological community are called as pioneer species.They modify their environment as they live and survive.They produce other organisms to come and start living in the area.They are the hardy species previously biodiverse ecosystems that have been disrupted.some lichens grow on rocks without soil and breakdown the rocks to soil for plants.They are important because they are the first to return after disturbance,they are the first stage of succession,and their presence increases the diversity in a region.