Towards a Cohesive, Holistic View of Top Predation: A Definition, Synthesis and Perspective

Authors

Fabrizio Sergio, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC
Oswald J. Schmitz, Yale University
Charles J. Krebbs, University of British Columbia
Robert D. Holt, University of Florida
Michael R. Heithaus, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow
Aaron J. Wirsing, University of Washington - Seattle CampusFollow
William J. Ripple, Oregon State UniversityFollow
Euan Ritchie, Deakin UniversityFollow
David Ainley, H.T. Harvey and Associate
Daniel Oro, Dept of Population Ecology, Inst. for Mediterranean Studies (IMEDEA), CSIC-UIB
Yadvendradev Jhala, Wildlife Inst. of India
Fernando Hiraldo, Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC
Erkki Korpimäki, University of Turku

Abstract

The ongoing global loss of top predators and their recolonization of various regions are causing a rapid upsurge of studies on these species and a consequent fragmentation of this field into disconnected, specialized subcompartments: this will weaken efforts to produce synthetic generalisations of broader ecological interest. Here, we show that top predation provides regular contributions to general ecology, is well grounded in theoretical ecology and is a rapidly expanding and increasingly experimental, multidisciplinary and technological field of research. The novelty of this forum lies in providing a concise synthesis of this area of ecology, in attempting to formalise “top predation” as a specific, inter-connected area of investigation, and in proposing a marked change of mentality by stressing the need for cross-taxonomic approaches enabling broader views of the role of predators in ecosystems.

Comments

© 2014 The Authors. Oikos © 2014 Nordic Society Oikos

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/oik.01468

Recommended Citation

Sergio, F., O.J. Schmitz, C.J. Krebs, R.D. Holt, M.R. Heithaus, A.J. Wirsing, W.J. Ripple, E. Ritchie, D. Ainley, D. Oro, Y. Jhala, F. Hiraldo. 2014. Towards a cohesive, holistic view of top predation: a definition, synthesis and perspective. Oikos 123(10): 1234-1243.