Q.

The species of plants that plays a vital role in controlling the relative abundance of other species in a community is called ______.            [2023]

1 alien species  
2 endemic species  
3 exotic species  
4 keystone species  

Ans.

(4)

Keystone species are those species which has significant and disproportionately large influence on the community structure and characteristics. It has often considerably low abundance and biomass as compared to dominant species. Removal of such species causes serious disruption in structure and function of community.