What impact does the removal of a keystone species have on its community?

The removal of a keystone species typically leads to widespread havoc and destruction within its community. A keystone species plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, influencing population dynamics and the overall health of the ecosystem. The absence of such a species can result in significant imbalances. For example, if a predator is removed, prey populations may explode, leading to overgrazing or overbrowsing, which can decimate plant communities and alter the habitat for numerous other species. This domino effect disrupts established interactions among organisms, often resulting in decreased biodiversity and overall instability in the community.

In contrast, the option suggesting increased species diversity is unlikely since the removal of a keystone species typically reduces diversity in the long run due to the unregulated growth of certain species at the expense of others. The idea that the overall stability of the community would remain intact is contrary to ecological principles because keystone species are fundamental to that stability. Lastly, it is inaccurate to assert that there would be a minimal effect on the ecosystem, as the changes following the loss of a keystone species often ripple through the food web, leading to significant ecological shifts.