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    Science. 2005 Jun 10;308(5728):1621-3.

    Trophic cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem.

    Source

    Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Ocean Sciences Division, Post Office Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada. frankk@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

    Abstract

    Removal of top predators from ecosystems can result in cascading effects through the trophic levels below, completely restructuring the food web. Cascades have been observed in small-scale or simple food webs, but not in large, complex, open-ocean ecosystems. Using data spanning many decades from a once cod-dominated northwest Atlantic ecosystem, we demonstrate a trophic cascade in a large marine ecosystem. Several cod stocks in other geographic areas have also collapsed without recovery, suggesting the existence of trophic cascades in these systems.

    PMID:
    15947186
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Free full text

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