Question

a wolf is shown in the image below. what is the role of wolves in their ecosystem? wolves prey on elk, bison, and occasionally livestock. many years ago, the government took steps to reduce the wolf population. however, in the absence of wolves, populations of their prey increased disproportionately, causing a decline in the population of plant species. this decline disrupted the ecosystem. following a study of the wolves impact, ecologists regarded wolves as the keystone species of the ecosystem, as their absence caused a beneficial effect on the ecosystem.

Explanation:

Wolves are considered keystone species as their presence or absence has a large - scale impact on the ecosystem. They control prey populations, which in turn affects plant species. Their removal led to an over - population of prey and a decline in plants. When reintroduced, they restored balance.

Answer:

keystone species