Snowshoe Hare Field Experiment
In the Kluane experiment, removing predators did this to hare density compared with control plots.
What is “roughly doubled (≈2×)”
The famous hare–lynx cycle repeats about every this many years.
What are 9–11 years
These are traits—morphological, behavioral, physiological—that shape biotic interactions such as predation.
What are “functional traits”
In kelp forests, the predator that keeps urchins in check is this marine mammal.
What is “the sea otter”
Basic definition: in a predator–prey relationship, one species benefits and the other is negatively impacted—what simple population pattern often results?
What are “out-of-phase oscillations (predator up, prey down, and vice versa)
Adding supplemental food alone had this effect on hare density.
What is “about tripled (≈3×)”
Time-series analysis suggests hare dynamics are effectively this dimensionality, reflecting regulation from both above and below.
What is “three-dimensional”
Beyond size ratios, the match between predator hunting mode and prey mobility matters. Name the three canonical predator hunting modes.
What are “ambush (sit-and-wait), ballistic interception (sit-and-pursue), and pursuit (coursing)”
When otters are removed, this echinoderm’s population skyrockets.
What is “the sea urchin”
Prey can evolve in response to predators—and predators to prey—through this reciprocal process.
What is “co-evolution / trait adaptation”
Doing both—removing predators and adding food—changed hare density by about this multiple.
What is “~11× the control”
Lynx dynamics are best described as this dimensionality and are primarily controlled in this direction of the food web.
What is “two-dimensional and regulated from below (donor-controlled by hare availability)”
Predators can affect prey even without eating them, via vigilance and stress responses. These are called what kind of effects?
What are “non-consumptive effects”
The habitat that collapses when urchins overgraze is this underwater “forest.”
What is “kelp (kelp forests)”
Size matching matters: predators are limited by gape and payoffs; prey too small/large can be suboptimal. This principle is called what?
What is “size selectivity / predator–prey size ratio constraint”
This treatment showed no measurable effect on hare density.
What is “nutrient addition alone”
The classic symmetric two-species view is “too simplistic” because hares face many predators, while lynx mainly track hares—this is called what kind of configuration?
What is “an asymmetric food-web configuration”
Individual “bold” vs “shy” behaviors in predators and prey can change outcomes. This repeatable behavior difference is referred to as what?
What is “personality (behavioral type)”
Name the ecological term for predators indirectly benefitting plants by suppressing herbivores.
What is “a trophic cascade (top-down control)”
In the hare experiment, “no single factor explains everything”; give the paired terms for bottom-up vs top-down forces.
What are “food limitation vs predation”
Big-picture takeaway: hare numbers are limited by these two forces acting together.
What are “top-down predation and bottom-up food supply”
The long historical datasets used in this analysis came originally from this source.
What are Canadian fur records compiled by Elton/Chitty and the Snowshoe Rabbit Enquiry
Rapid changes in trait expression from plasticity and selection feed back on dynamics. This two-way linkage between ecology and evolution is called what?
What are “eco-evolutionary feedbacks”
One sentence: removing top predators alters community structure because prey can grow unchecked—state this mechanism succinctly.
What is “release from top-down limitation leads to consumer outbreaks and resource decline”
For lynx, population change is best seen as “donor-controlled.” Translate that in plain language.
What is “lynx numbers are largely driven by how many hares are available”