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Warming induces a trophic cascade in freshwater streams

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We examined the interactive effects of temperature and the presence of apex fish predators on food web structure in Icelandic geothermal streams. Fish suppressed the biomass of invertebrates and thus released algae from grazing pressure, but only at higher temperatures, which illustrates how the combination of warming and apex predators triggers this trophic cascade.

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Fig. 1: Temperature-induced trophic cascade.

References

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This is a summary of: O’Gorman, E. J. et al. Warming indirectly simplifies food webs through effects on apex predators. Nat. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02216-4 (2023).

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Warming induces a trophic cascade in freshwater streams. Nat Ecol Evol 7, 1967–1968 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02222-6

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