1 Tahrcountry Musings: Book Recommendation

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Book Recommendation

Trophic Cascades

Predators, Prey, and the Changing Dynamics of Nature
John Terborgh, James Estes
Publisher: Island Press
456 p. 7"x10"
ISBN: 9781597264877

Here is a very good book on Trophic cascads, the top-down regulation of ecosystems by predators. Trophic cascades are often turned topsy-turvy by human interventions. The book bucks the idea of "bottom up" regulation of ecosystems. It graphically describes the consequences of apex predator elimination which results in a chain reaction, or "cascade" of effects down to the lowest level of the trophic ladder.
In recent years Trophic cascads have started assuming increasing influence in the development of conservation and management strategies.


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