Overview
Trophic cascades are crucial ecological processes that illustrate the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem. When a keystone species is removed or introduced, it can lead to significant changes in the populations of other species, affecting the entire food web. For example, the reintrodu...
Key Terms
Example: A forest ecosystem includes trees, animals, soil, and water.
Example: Producers are at the first trophic level, while top predators are at the highest.
Example: Sea otters are a keystone species that help control sea urchin populations.
Example: Grass → Rabbit → Fox.
Example: In a pond, fish, insects, and plants are all interconnected in a food web.
Example: Wolves controlling deer populations in Yellowstone.
Related Topics
Ecological Succession
The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, often following disturbances.
intermediateBiodiversity and Conservation
The study of the variety of life on Earth and the efforts to protect it.
intermediateSpecies Interactions
The various ways species interact with each other, including predation, competition, and symbiosis.
intermediateKey Concepts
food webkeystone speciestop-down controlbottom-up control