The Wolf's Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades, and Biodiversity
What do wolves have to do with the viability of trees? Or sea otters with kelp? Conservation biologist Eisenberg explains the far-reaching impact of such keystone species on their habitats in her debut book, which is rooted in the seminal work of Aldo Leopold, who traced the energy flow of the food chain, and the much debated “green world hypothesis,” which states that the world is green because predators keep herbivores in check. Eisenberg shares eye-opening revelations regarding the full scope and astonishing subtleties of predator/prey relationships and their immense ecological impact. Drawing on her own fieldwork with wolves, she observes that when they are eradicated, entire biotic communities are jeopardized, including aspen stands, in a process known as a trophic cascade. This waterfall or domino effect gravely diminishes terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Eisenberg cites vivid examples in Yellowstone, the Aleutian Islands, Amazon rain forests, and coral reefs that affirm the core truth about nature: it's all about relationships. An enlightening work that will advance understanding of biodiversity and how to sustain it. --Donna Seaman