Revising the specialist and generalist predation hypotheses: examples from the Arctic

摘要: A major hypothesis to explain when population cycles should be present or absent is the difference between generalist and specialist predation. Specialist predation assumed largely destabilizing while stabilizing. Using examples from Arctic, notably parametrised differential equation model of Gilg et al. 2003 [Science, 302:866-868], designed lemming in Greenland, we show that role more nuanced. In particular, find (1) predators can initiate declines (2) short persist absence specialists. We then discuss specialist-generalist predator dichotomy its usefulness for theory.