Tag

Trophic Cascade

All articles tagged with #trophic cascade

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Tiny California preserve reveals how mountain lions reshape local ecosystems

Stanford researchers at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve documented increased mountain‑lion (puma) activity from 2015–2020, including daytime sightings, alongside a drop in deer and signs of vegetation recovery (oak saplings), pointing to a trophic cascade in this suburban enclave. As big cats moved in, coyotes and bobcats declined while fox activity rose, potentially affecting rabbits. The findings, published in Ecology and Evolution, suggest even small preserves connected to larger wildlands can show pronounced ecological ripple effects and underscore the importance of preserving predator habitats.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#ecology #jasper-ridge-biological-preserve #mountain-lions

science1 month ago•11 min saved

Mountain Lions Spark a Trophic Cascade at a Small California Preserve

Stanford researchers report that increasing visits by mountain lions to Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve trigger a trophic cascade: deer browsing declines and woody plants, especially oaks, rebound—reaching about a 64-fold increase in density. The effect also reshapes smaller predators’ behavior (coyotes and bobcats become less nocturnal; fox activity rises), with rabbit activity dropping. The mechanism is behavioral (ecology of fear) rather than direct predation, and the team cautions that weather and other factors could contribute to the observed plant increase; the recovery is partial, not complete. The study highlights that even small, peri-urban reserves connected to larger wilderness can exhibit significant ecological dynamics.

via Space Daily|

#ecology-of-fear #jasper-ridge #mountain-lions

environment7 months ago•2 min saved

Impact of Wolf Reintroduction on Yellowstone's Ecosystem

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has been linked to an ecological cascade that benefits the ecosystem, but the extent and causes of this impact are still debated among scientists, with some questioning the strength of the trophic cascade and the role of wolves versus other predators.

via Live Science|

#conservation #ecological-cascade #environment

environmental-science2 years ago•2 min saved

Ants' Impact on Lions' Prey Selection in Kenya

In Laikipia county, Kenya, an invasion of big-headed ants has disrupted the ecosystem, leading to a chain of consequences that has caused lions to switch from hunting zebras to hunting buffalo. The invasion has affected the relationship between whistling-thorn trees, native acacia ants, elephants, lions, zebras, and buffalo, illustrating a phenomenon called "trophic cascade." As a result, elephants are browsing and breaking trees more frequently in invaded areas, leading to a decrease in zebra kills and an increase in buffalo kills by lions.

via The Economist|

#ecosystem #environmental-science #invasive-species