MLchartDataset catalogue

Trophic cascade

Term · Chemistry · MLC-T-CHM-012314

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which then propagates down through lower trophic levels. This can lead to alternating effects on biomass and abundance across the food web. For example, a decrease in predators can lead to an increase in herbivores, which then reduces plant biomass.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-CHM-012314
FieldChemistry
SubjectChemistry and Human Health
ReferencesPAC, 2009, 81, 829. 'Glossary of terms used in ecotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2009)' on page 959 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-08-07-09)
See alsoFood chain; Phytoplankton; Piscivorous; Planktivorous; Trophic level; Zooplankton
Record as JSON
{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-012314",
  "term": "Trophic cascade",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which then propagates down through lower trophic levels. This can lead to alternating effects on biomass and abundance across the food web. For example, a decrease in predators can lead to an increase in herbivores, which then reduces plant biomass.",
  "subject": "Chemistry and Human Health",
  "see_also": [
    "food chain",
    "phytoplankton",
    "piscivorous",
    "planktivorous",
    "trophic level",
    "zooplankton"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2009, 81, 829. 'Glossary of terms used in ecotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2009)' on page 959 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-08-07-09)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/trophic-cascade/"
}

Record 13,129 of 13,676 in Chemistry terminology (MLC-0109). Request the full dataset.