The phenomenon where the removal of one species impacts the entire community is called interdependence in ecology. This term highlights how species within a community rely on each other for survival functions such as food, shelter, pollination, and seed dispersal, so the loss of one species can affect the whole community balance.
Additionally, a specific concept related to species that have a disproportionately large effect on their ecosystem, whose removal causes cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, is known as a keystone species. The disappearance of a keystone species can dramatically alter community structure and ecosystem dynamics.
In summary:
- The broad term describing the impact of one species on the whole community is interdependence.
- The term describing a species whose removal causes major community and ecosystem changes is a keystone species.
Both concepts relate to the critical roles species play in maintaining ecological balance.
