Table 1 Critical examination of the case study based on diagnostic criteria for a trophic cascade.
From: Critical assessment and ramifications of a purported marine trophic cascade
Diagnostic | Question |
|---|---|
Temporal correlation of abundance trends | How reliable are the relative abundance trends for predators? |
Spatiotemporal overlap | Is there spatiotemporal overlap between predators and mesopredators? |
Prey growth rapid compared to predator | Are mesopredator population growth rates realistic? |
Prey significant part of predator diet | How strong are predator-mesopredator trophic linkages? |
Predator primary source of predation mortality | Does the mesopredator negatively affect consumer/resource populations? |
