Loss of predators in the food chain can alter the ecosystem

[theHandpuppet]

Loss of predators in the food chain can alter the ecosystem
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Take away the predators at the top of the food chain — the lions, tigers, wolves and cougars — and entire ecosystems start to change. A paper in today's edition of the journal Science suggests that humans' destruction of these top predators is causing reverberations worldwide in ways not apparent even a decade ago, including changes in the landscape and even increases in wildfires.

Although the idea that there are serious ecosystem consequences to the removal of top predators isn't new, with this paper, "it's come of age," says Aaron Wirsing, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The review was conducted by two dozen scientists in six countries. It was funded by the National Science Foundation in the USA, Canada's Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and others.

The loss of species at the top of the food chain has been happening worldwide either because humans believed they harmed livestock, competed for wild game or simply because ecosystems had become too fragmented to support them....

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2011-07-14-Ecosystem-predators-food-chain-science-study_n.htm

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[pipoman]

2. I watched a video a while back about deforestation

being related to loss of predators. A lady scientist found that regeneration of forest areas was not occurring in many areas as it always has historically. However in areas where larger predators were being reintroduced or were never threatened reforestation was developing as it always had. Her theory, backed by study and observation, is that predators keep big game herbivores constantly moving as they graze. Where there is a danger of predators, elk and deer will graze a few minutes, then look around and walk several feet, then resume grazing. Whereas in areas with no predators, these animals graze nonstop basically clear cutting the new growth including saplings.

I wonder if this group was established to test her theories.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Very interesting

Makes sense to me though I had never heard this theory discussed before.