What does the term 'trophic cascade' refer to?

The term 'trophic cascade' refers to a chain reaction in population sizes across food webs, specifically highlighting how changes in the population of one species can affect multiple other species within the ecosystem. This concept is rooted in the understanding of the interconnectedness of food chains, where, for example, the depletion or introduction of a top predator can lead to an increase or decrease in the population of herbivores, which in turn affects the vegetation and other species in the ecosystem.

In this context, if a predator is removed from the ecosystem, its prey may thrive, leading to overgrazing and a decline in plant diversity. Conversely, the reintroduction of predators can help control herbivore populations, allowing plant life to recover and promoting a more balanced ecosystem overall. This illustrates the cascading effects that can arise from changes at one trophic level influencing others, which is a key aspect of understanding ecological dynamics and predator-prey relationships.