Red in tooth and claw: How top predators shape terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

Top predators are increasingly recognized as important regulators of ecosystem structure. Elmhagen et al. in this issue show how a recolonizing population of lynx in Finland is in the process of imposing control of the abundance of a mesopredator, the red fox and relaxing predation pressure on a prey species. Their study shows how ecological restoration programs could use the power of top predators to limit mesopredator populations and control total predation pressure on prey species. © 2010 The Author. Journal compilation © 2010 British Ecological Society.