Mesopredator release hypothesis

The mesopredator release hypothesis is an ecological theory describing the interrelated population dynamics between apex predators and mesopredators within an ecosystem, in which a collapsing population of apex predators leads to a dramatic increase in the populations of mesopredators, a pattern that describes a specific form of trophic cascade in certain terrestrial communities. A mesopredator is a medium sized, middle trophic level predator that both preys on other animals and is itself preyed upon, with raccoons, skunks, snakes, cownose rays, and small sharks cited as examples. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/