What are key and indicator species?

Question

Give examples if you have please

Answer 1

Yeah, what Amy L. said.

jw

Answer 2

Keystone species enrich ecosystem function in a unique and significant manner through their activities.  The effect is disproportionate to their numerical abundance. Their removal initiates changes in ecosystem structure and often loss of diversity. These keystones may be habitat modifiers (ie. cottonwoods & rushes), keystone predators (ie. mt lion and coyote) or keystone herbivores (ie. prairie dog and beaver).

Indicator species are the proverbial "canary in the coal mine."  Amphibians are indicator species; they are very susceptible to a number of human impacts, and their health and presence may alert us to conditions that could impact humans.  Dragonflies, for instance, are an indicator of a healthy system.

It's fairly complex but this is it in a nutshell, I hope.  Speaking of which, I consider oaks here in SoCal to be keystone species, since they support hundreds of species.  The occurance of Sudden Oak Death in the upper portions of the state is devasting that habitat, the effects of which won't be fully appreciated for years to come.

Answer 3

in my opinion it is the coral reef and the butterfly,s