Gigantic cannibals driving a whole-lake trophic cascade

摘要: Trophic cascades have been a central paradigm in explaining the structure of ecological communities but demonstrated mainly through comparative studies or experimental manipulations. In contrast, evidence for shifts trophic caused by intrinsically driven population dynamics is meager. By using empirical data cannibalistic fish covering 10-year period and size-structured model, we show occurrence dynamic cascade lake ecosystem, which community over time alternates between two different configurations. The change size from dominance stunted individuals to gigantic cannibals among adult driving force behind distinct abundance switches observed zooplankton phytoplankton. presence phase with depends critically on energy they extract their victims, allowing strong reproduction number years.