Question

types of species research project (presentation notes)
georgia standards of excellence
sev2. obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to construct explanations of stability and change in
earths ecosystems.
d. construct an argument to support a claim about the value of biodiversity in ecosystem resilience
including keystone, invasive, native, endemic, indicator, and endangered species.
learning objectives:

1. i can describe the roles of keystone, and endangered species in ecosystems
2. i can provide examples of keystone species and their effects on ecosystems.
3. i can explain how invasive species impact biodiversity.
4. i can identify the importance of native, endemic, and indicator species in an ecosystem.

Explanation:

• Keystone species:
• Definition: Species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance.
• Example: Sea otters. They control sea urchin populations. If sea urchins are not controlled, they overgraze kelp forests.
• Role in the ecosystem: Maintain the structure of the ecosystem. In the case of sea otters, they help maintain the kelp - forest ecosystem which is home to many other species.
• Human Impact: Hunting of sea otters led to a decline in their population. This caused an increase in sea urchin numbers and destruction of kelp forests.
• Native species:
• Definition: Species that naturally occur in a particular ecosystem, having evolved there over time.
• Example: The American bison in the North American prairie.
• Role in the ecosystem: They are part of the natural food web. Bison graze on grasses, which helps in seed dispersal and maintaining grassland structure.
• Human Impact: Habitat loss (conversion of prairies to farmland) has reduced bison populations. Introduction of non - native species (like some invasive plants) can also compete with native species for resources.
• Endemic species:
• Definition: Species that are native to and found only in a specific, usually restricted, geographical area.
• Example: The quokka in Western Australia.
• Role in the ecosystem: They are often part of unique local food webs. For example, quokkas may be prey for some local predators and also help in seed dispersal of local plants.
• Human Impact: Habitat destruction (due to urbanization and agriculture) and introduction of non - native predators (like foxes in some areas where quokkas live) threaten endemic species.

Answer:

	Definition	Examples	Role in the ecosystem	Human Impact
Native species	Species naturally occurring in a particular ecosystem	American bison (North American prairie)	Part of the natural food web (e.g., grass - grazing, seed dispersal)	Habitat loss (prairie conversion) and competition with non - native species
Endemic species	Species native to and found only in a specific geographical area	Quokka (Western Australia)	Part of unique local food webs (e.g., prey and seed dispersal)	Habitat destruction (urbanization, agriculture) and threat from non - native predators