Trophic Cascade in AP Environmental Science

Definition

A trophic cascade refers to ecological changes that occur when there are alterations at one trophic level (such as predator removal) that impact multiple levels below it (such as increases or decreases in prey populations).

Related terms

Trophic Interactions:

Trophic interactions describe feeding relationships between organisms within an ecosystem and how energy flows through them.

Positive Feedback Loops:

Positive feedback loops amplify changes within ecosystems rather than maintaining balance. For example, an increase in plant growth due to more nutrients can lead to an increase in herbivore populations, which then leads to even more plant consumption.

Keystone Species: A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Their removal can cause significant changes throughout the entire ecosystem.