Mesopredator: Difference between revisions
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{{tone|date=February 2020}}[[File:Urban_raccoon_and_skunk.JPG|thumb|[[Raccoon]]s and [[skunk]]s are mesopredators. Pictured is a [[common raccoon]] and a [[striped skunk]] eating [[cat food]] in an urban area.]] |
{{tone|date=February 2020}}[[File:Urban_raccoon_and_skunk.JPG|thumb|[[Raccoon]]s and [[skunk]]s are mesopredators. Pictured is a [[common raccoon]] and a [[striped skunk]] eating [[cat food]] in an urban area.]] |
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A '''Mesopredator''' is a [[predator]] which occupies a mid-ranking [[trophic level]] in a [[food web]].<ref>{{cite book |last1= Groom|first1= Martha|last2= Meffe|first2= Gary|date= August 5, 2005|title= Principles of Conservation Biology|publisher= Sinauer Associates, Inc.|isbn= 978-0878935970}}</ref> There is no standard definition of a mesopredator, but they are usually referred to as being medium-sized, compared to [[apex predator]] |
A '''Mesopredator''' is a [[predator]] which occupies a mid-ranking [[trophic level]] in a [[food web]].<ref>{{cite book |last1= Groom|first1= Martha|last2= Meffe|first2= Gary|date= August 5, 2005|title= Principles of Conservation Biology|publisher= Sinauer Associates, Inc.|isbn= 978-0878935970}}</ref> There is no standard definition of a mesopredator, but they are usually referred to as being medium-sized, compared to [[apex predator]]s and the prey in a food web.<ref>{{Cite web |title=mesopredator release {{!}} ecology {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/mesopredator-release |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="prugh">{{Cite journal |last1=Prugh |first1=Laura R. |last2=Stoner |first2=Chantal J. |last3=Epps |first3=Clinton W. |last4=Bean |first4=William T. |last5=Ripple |first5=William J. |last6=Laliberte |first6=Andrea S. |last7=Brashares |first7=Justin S. |date=2009-10-01 |title=The Rise of the Mesopredator |journal=BioScience |volume=59 |issue=9 |pages=779–791 |doi=10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.9 |issn=0006-3568 |s2cid=40484905}}</ref> Mesopredators typically prey on smaller animals. |
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Mesopredators vary in different [[Ecosystem|ecosystems]] depending on the food web. When new [[species]] are introduced into an ecosystem, the role of the mesopredator often changes; the same happens if species are removed.<ref name="prugh" /> |
Mesopredators vary in different [[Ecosystem|ecosystems]] depending on the food web. When new [[species]] are introduced into an ecosystem, the role of the mesopredator often changes; the same happens if species are removed.<ref name="prugh" /> |
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Revision as of 16:57, 17 September 2023
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (February 2020) |
A Mesopredator is a predator which occupies a mid-ranking trophic level in a food web.[1] There is no standard definition of a mesopredator, but they are usually referred to as being medium-sized, compared to apex predators and the prey in a food web.[2][3] Mesopredators typically prey on smaller animals.
Mesopredators vary in different ecosystems depending on the food web. When new species are introduced into an ecosystem, the role of the mesopredator often changes; the same happens if species are removed.[3]
The Mesopredator Release Effect
When populations of an apex predator decrease, populations of mesopredators in the area often increase due to decreased competition and conflict with the apex predator. This is known as the mesopredator release effect.[4] These mesopredator outbreaks can lead to declining prey populations, destabilize ecological communities, and can even drive local extinctions.[3]
With fewer apex predators to compete with, mesopredators have lower mortality rates and are able to catch more prey. If the population of apex predators declines to a significant extent, the mesopredators can take over the role of an apex predator. However, mesopredators that adopt the role of an apex predator occupy different ecological niches than the former apex predator and will have different effects on the structure and stability of the ecosystem.[3]
All mesopredators in the ecosystem benefit from this mesopredator release.[3] Apex predators reduce mesopredator populations and change mesopredator behaviors and habitat choices by preying on and intimidating mesopredators.[5] This phenomenon occurs in any predator-prey relationship. However, in the case of the relationship between apex predator and mesopredator, mesopredators can be driven to leave the ecosystem, altering the food web.
Mesopredator outbreaks are becoming more common in fragmented habitats.[3] This is primarily caused by the loss of apex predator species from these fragmented habitats. Apex predators are typically larger animals that roam and hunt across a large territory. When habitats are fragmented, these species can be driven to leave and find more suitable habitats.[3] In addition, apex predators often have more encounters with humans, leaving them more susceptible to harmful or deadly conflicts.[3] These conflicts can cause an apex predator to leave the ecosystem, or humans can kill off an apex predator population entirely.
When an apex predator leaves the ecosystem, former mesopredators will be released from the top-down control of the former apex predators. Mesopredator outbreaks are also becoming more prevalent as certain resources consumed by these species (such as pet food, trash, crops, and crop pests), are becoming more common in fragmented areas.[3] These resources often appear when development is occurring within or near the ecosystem, creating ideal conditions for mesopredator outbreaks to occur.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Groom, Martha; Meffe, Gary (August 5, 2005). Principles of Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Inc. ISBN 978-0878935970.
- ^ "mesopredator release | ecology | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prugh, Laura R.; Stoner, Chantal J.; Epps, Clinton W.; Bean, William T.; Ripple, William J.; Laliberte, Andrea S.; Brashares, Justin S. (2009-10-01). "The Rise of the Mesopredator". BioScience. 59 (9): 779–791. doi:10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.9. ISSN 0006-3568. S2CID 40484905.
- ^ "mesopredator release | ecology | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
- ^ Ritchie, Euan G.; Johnson, Christopher N. (2009-09-01). "Predator interactions, mesopredator release and biodiversity conservation". Ecology Letters. 12 (9): 982–998. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01347.x. ISSN 1461-0248. PMID 19614756.