Consider the following statements :

I. Keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

II. Sentinel species gives us an early warning of problems that could potentially affect other species.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both statements are correct.

• Statement I: A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Its role is so critical that without it, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist. A defining characteristic of a keystone species is that it has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its low abundance or biomass.
• Statement II: A sentinel species is an organism used to monitor environmental hazards or risks. These species are often more sensitive to specific changes (like pollution or pathogens) than others, thus providing an early warning of potential threats to the broader ecosystem or human health. A classic example is the use of canaries in coal mines to detect carbon monoxide.