4.2 Apex Predators & Trophic Cascades Vocab
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6 Terms
Apex Predator
Top of food chain; no natural predators. Examples: wolf (Yellowstone), orca (marine), cougar, lion, eagle.
Mesopredator
Middle of food chain (e.g., coyotes, foxes). Without apex predators, mesopredators become overabundant → 'mesopredator release.'
Keystone Species
Species other species LARGELY DEPEND on. Its removal causes drastic ecosystem change. Often the apex predator.
Umbrella Species
Protecting this species indirectly protects many others in the same ecological community.
Biodiversity
Variety of species in an ecosystem. High biodiversity = more resilient ecosystem.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population size an ecosystem can support, limited by food, water, space.
