In '' rivet - popper hypothesis '' , the wing rivets are compared with
(a) dominant species
(b) critical link species
(c) rare species
(d) key stone species

Options

A. dominant species
B. critical link species
C. rare species
D. key stone species

Answer

To solve the question regarding the "rivet-popper hypothesis" and what the wing rivets are compared to, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Rivet-Popper Hypothesis**:
- The rivet-popper hypothesis was proposed by Paul Ehrlich. It compares the components of an ecosystem to the rivets on an airplane. Each rivet represents a species in the ecosystem.

2. **Analyze the Comparison**:
- In this analogy, the airplane represents the ecosystem, and the rivets are the species that hold the ecosystem together. If a few rivets (species) are removed, the airplane (ecosystem) can still function. However, if too many rivets are removed, the structure of the airplane (ecosystem) becomes compromised.

3. **Identify the Role of Keystone Species**:
- Keystone species are crucial for maintaining the structure of an ecosystem. Their presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance. If a keystone species is lost, it can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem.

4. **Match the Options**:
- (a) Dominant species: These are species that are more abundant or have a significant influence in a community but are not necessarily critical for the ecosystem's structure.
- (b) Critical link species: This term is not commonly used in ecological literature in the same context as keystone species.
- (c) Rare species: These species have low abundance and do not play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem structure.
- (d) Keystone species: These species are essential for the ecosystem's integrity, much like the rivets in the airplane analogy.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analogy provided in the rivet-popper hypothesis, the wing rivets are compared with **keystone species**. Thus, the correct answer is **(d) keystone species**.

### Final Answer:
(d) keystone species