Trophic cascades: linking ungulates to shrub-dependent birds and butterflies

Interactions between cleaner-birds and ungulates are personality dependent.

While a growing body of literature explores the ecological implications of consistent individual variation in the behaviour of wildlife, few studies have looked at the reciprocal influences of personality within interspecific interactions, despite the potentially significant impacts on biodiversity. Here I used two species involved in cleaner-bird behaviour-black-billed magpies (Pica pica) and ...

Nationwide trophic cascades: changes in avian community structure driven by ungulates

In recent decades, many ungulate populations have changed dramatically in abundance, resulting in cascading effects across ecosystems. However, studies of such effects are often limited in their spatial and temporal scope. Here, we contrast multi-species composite population trends of deer-sensitive and deer-tolerant woodland birds at a national scale, across Britain. We highlight the divergent...

Trophic Cascades in Lakes:

Trophic redundancy reduces vulnerability to extinction cascades

Current species extinction rates are at unprecedentedly high levels. While human activities can be the direct cause of some extinctions, it is becoming increasingly clear that species extinctions themselves can be the cause of further extinctions, since species affect each other through the network of ecological interactions among them. There is concern that the simplification of ecosystems, du...

Aspen snag dynamics, cavity-nesting birds, and trophic cascades in Yellowstone’s northern range

We examined current and possible future aspen stand dynamics and cavity-nesting bird abundances for Yellowstone’s northern ungulate winter range. Our measurements suggest aspen stands located within Yellowstone National Park (YNP) are in a different condition than those located in the Gallatin National Forest (GNF), immediately outside the park. Stands inside YNP were composed of more snags and...