A "trophic cascade" is an ecological concept that describes the control exerted by predators at high trophic levels over the population sizes and behavior of organisms at lower trophic levels. This control can indirectly affect the abundance or composition of plant communities at the base of the food web.

Trophic cascades can be top-down, where predators control herbivores, or bottom-up, where changes in primary producers (plants) control the abundance of herbivores and predators.

An example of a trophic cascade can be seen in the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem in the United States. When wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995, they began to prey on elk, which are herbivores. The reduction in the elk population led to a decrease in browsing pressure on young willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees. As a result, these tree species have begun to recover, providing habitat for other species such as beavers and songbirds. This is an example of a top-down trophic cascade, where the predator (wolf) controls the herbivore (elk) population, leading to an increase in the primary producer (tree) population.

Question

A "trophic cascade" is an ecological concept that describes the control exerted by predators at high trophic levels over the population sizes and behavior of organisms at lower trophic levels. This control can indirectly affect the abundance or composition of plant communities at the base of the food web.

Trophic cascades can be top-down, where predators control herbivores, or bottom-up, where changes in primary producers (plants) control the abundance of herbivores and predators.

An example of a trophic cascade can be seen in the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem in the United States. When wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995, they began to prey on elk, which are herbivores. The reduction in the elk population led to a decrease in browsing pressure on young willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees. As a result, these tree species have begun to recover, providing habitat for other species such as beavers and songbirds. This is an example of a top-down trophic cascade, where the predator (wolf) controls the herbivore (elk) population, leading to an increase in the primary producer (tree) population.

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A "trophic cascade" is an ecological concept that describes the control exerted by predators at high trophic levels over the population sizes and behavior of organisms at lower trophic levels. This control can indirectly affect the abundance or composition of plant communities at the base of the food web.

Trophic cascades can be top-down, where predators control herbivores, or bottom-up, where changes in primary producers (plants) control the abundance of herbivores and predators.

An example of a trophic cascade can be seen in the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem in the United States. When wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995, they began to prey on elk, which are herbivores. The reduction in the elk population led to a decrease in browsing pressure on young willow, aspen, and cottonwood trees. As a result, these tree species have begun to recover, providing habitat for other species such as beavers and songbirds. This is an example of a top-down trophic cascade, where the predator (wolf) controls the herbivore (elk) population, leading to an increase in the primary producer (tree) population.

Define the term "trophic cascade" and provide an example from a specific ecosystem.

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Define the term "trophic cascade" and provide an example from a specific ecosystem.

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