What is a Trophic Cascade?
Few concepts in ecology have been so influential as that of the trophic cascade. Since the 1980s, the term has been a central or major theme of more than 2000 scientific articles. Despite this importance and widespread usage, basic questions remain about what constitutes a trophic cascade. Inconsistent usage of language impedes scientific progress and the utility of scientific concepts in management and conservation. Herein, we offer a definition of trophic cascade that is designed to be both widely applicable yet explicit enough to exclude extraneous interactions. We discuss our proposed definition and its implications, and define important related terms, thereby providing a common language for scientists, policy makers, conservationists, and other stakeholders with an interest in trophic cascades.
Global Trophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. Electronic address: bill.ripple@oregonstate.edu.
William J
WJ
Ripple
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
James A
JA
Estes
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Oswald J
OJ
Schmitz
Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Vanessa
V
Constant
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Matthew J
MJ
Kaylor
Science Education Research Program, Department of Science and Mathematics Education, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Adam
A
Lenz
Marine Resource Management Program, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Motley
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Katharine E
KE
Self
Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
David S
DS
Taylor
Global Trophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Christopher
C
Wolf
D004463:Ecology; D020387:Food Chain; D009626:Terminology as Topic