Extinction of a keystone species led to loss of biodiversity. Justify.

Explanation

A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without the keystone species a particular ecosystem would be dramatically disturbed or even ceased. Keystone species either directly or indirectly affects every species in a particular ecosystem. If a keystone species is lost or removed no other organism would compensate its ecological niche. E.g.: Jaguar is a keystone species. As a top predator, it plays a crucial role in ecosystem. Without jaguar there is an exponential increase in herbivoral population that would decimate the plants of the ecosystem. At one point even the herbivore populations also get declined due to the lack of vegetation. Thus jaguar acts a keystone species.