Predators play irreplaceable role in ecosystems

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (08/28/2023) — New research, recently published in Oikos, shows that predators play a unique and important role in ecosystems by creating ‘ecological hotspots’ — localized areas important for plants and animals.Traditionally, predators have largely been thought to impact ecosystems only when they reduce the number of prey through predation, or change the behavior of prey by instilling fear.“We’ve known for some time now that predators have unique effects on ecosystems,” said co-author Tom Gable, postdoctoral researcher in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. “Even so, most of the research has been focused on understanding how predators affect ecosystems by altering prey populations. In reality, there are a whole host of other, lesser-known ways that individual predators can leave a distinct imprint on ecosystems.”The researchers found:Killing large prey can create ecological hotspots. Once predators make a kill, the carcasses of large pr...