Red in tooth and claw: how top predators shape terrestrial ecosystems.
Top predators are increasingly recognized as important regulators of ecosystem structure. Elmhagen et al. in this issue show how a recolonizing population of lynx in Finland is in the process of imposing control of the abundance of a mesopredator, the red fox, and relaxing predation pressure on a prey species. Their study shows how ecological restoration programs could use the power of top predators to limit mesopredator populations and control total predation pressure on prey species.
Johnson
Christopher N
CN
School of Maine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Northern Queensland, Australia. christopher.johnson@jcu.edu.au
D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005387:Finland; D020387:Food Chain; D005589:Foxes; D046008:Lynx; D011157:Population Dynamics