Trophic cascades: the primacy of trait‐mediated indirect interactions
Abstract
Trophic cascades are textbook examples of predator indirect effects on ecological systems. Yet there is considerable debate about their nature, strength and overall importance. This debate stems in part from continued uncertainty about the ultimate mechanisms driving cascading effects. We present a synthesis of empirical evidence in support of one possible ultimate mechanism: the foraging‐predation risk trade‐offs undertaken by intermediary species. We show that simple trade‐off behaviour can lead to both positive and negative indirect effects of predators on plant resources and hence can explain considerable contingency on the nature and strength of cascading effects among systems. Thus, predicting the sign and strength of indirect effect simply requires knowledge of habitat and resource use by prey with regard to predators’ presence, habitat use and hunting mode. The synthesis allows us to postulate a hypothesis for new conceptualization of trophic cascades which is to be viewed as an ultimate trade‐off between intervening species. In this context, different predators apply different rules of engagement based on their hunting mode and habitat use. These different rules then determine whether behavioural effects persist or attenuate at the level of the food chain.
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These results have implications for the potential of restored predators to initiate behaviorally mediated trophic cascades by changing prey habitat selection or foraging behavior.
“These results have implications for the potential of restored predators to initiate trophic cascades by changing the habitat-selection patterns or foraging behaviour of their prey (i.e.behaviourally mediated trophic cascades; Schmitz et al. 2004).”
From Landscape heterogeneity shapes predation in a newly restored predator–prey system (2007) · cites this paper as Schmitz et al. 2004
The strength of behaviorally mediated trophic cascades will depend on the costs and benefits of antipredator behavior.
“We note that the strength of such behaviourally mediated cascades will depend on the cost and benefits of antipredator behaviour (i.e.avoiding or foraging less efficiently in risky areas; Schmitz et al. 2004).”
From Landscape heterogeneity shapes predation in a newly restored predator–prey system (2007) · cites this paper as Schmitz et al. 2004
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“However, we know that predators can also have direct nonconsumptive effects (NCE) on prey populations by causing changes in prey traits, such as behavior, growth, and development (Lima 1998, Schmitz et al. 2004).”
BackgroundSelf-citationLandscape heterogeneity shapes predation in a newly restored predator–prey system
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- Authors
- Schmitz, O. J., Krivan, V., & Ovadia, O.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Venue
- Ecology Letters
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-02
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 153-163
- ISSN
- 1461-023X (ISSN-L)
- 1461-0248
- OpenAlex
- W2124528330
- Cited by
- 1,081
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 56 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 47
- FWCI
- 34.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ecology Letters (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Keywords
- trophic cascades, trait-mediated indirect interactions, predator-prey interactions, intermediate species, habitat use, plant resource utilization, food chain dynamics
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