Use the image to answer the question below.

The plants are eaten by consumers at the first level, such as rat, grasshopper, frog, squirrel, whiptail, and deer. The consumers at the second level, such as ringtail, eagle, and pine marten eat the consumers at the first level. The consumers at the third level, such as wolf, mountain lion, and cat eat the consumers at the second level. Some of the consumers at the first level are also eaten by consumers at the third level.



Which one of the following animals is most likely to be a keystone species, based on the food web provided?

(1 point)
Responses

grasshopper
grasshopper

deer
deer

frog
frog

Mouse
Mouse
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The most likely keystone species based on the food web provided would be the wolf. As a predator at the third level, the wolf plays a crucial role in controlling the populations of the consumers at the second and first levels. If the wolf were removed from the ecosystem, it could lead to overpopulation of certain species and disrupt the entire food web.