Question

What is the difference between a keystone species and a foundation species?

Answer 1

A species is an accumulation of organisms with common genetic ancestry, can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Reproductive barriers keep different animals from breeding with one another.

Complete answer:

Keystone species	Foundation species
The species that have a greater impact on all other species in an ecosystem are known as keystone species.	Foundation species are those that contribute significantly to the creation or maintenance of a landscape in order for other species in an ecosystem to thrive.
Keystone species are abundant.	Foundation species are numerically abundant and account for most of the biomass in an ecosystem.
Keystone species strongly affect the composition of communities in an ecosystem.	Foundation species physically modify the environment, produce and maintain habitats that benefit other organisms.
Mode of action is Trophic. Trophic species share a common collection of prey and predators in the food system.	Mode of action is Non-trophic. Non-trophic species do not share a common collection of prey and predators in the food system.
The term "keystone species” was coined by Robert Paine in the 1960s.	The term "foundation species” was coined by Paul K. Dayton in 1972.
Examples: Star fish, humming bird, sea otter, African elephants. American beaver. flying fox and mangrove trees	Examples: Coral reefs, trees in a forest, etc.

Note: According to a recent estimate defined by scientists as the most reliable yet, the natural world comprises around 8.7 million animals. However, the vast majority of them have yet to be found, and collecting them all could take over 1,000 years.