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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

Published on: October 5, 2017

Fishing indirectly structures macroalgal assemblages by altering herbivore behavior.

Elizabeth M P Madin¹, Steven D Gaines, Joshua S Madin

¹Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA. elizabeth.madin@uts.edu.au

The American Naturalist

|October 22, 2010

Summary

Ocean fishing that removes predatory fish can alter herbivore behavior, dramatically changing coral reef landscapes. This study reveals how these behaviorally mediated trophic cascades reshape marine ecosystems.

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Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea

Published on: September 5, 2018

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Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Laboratory Protocol for Genetic Gut Content Analyses of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Using Group-specific rDNA Primers

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Published on: October 5, 2017

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Quantifying Bivalve Suspension Feeding at Sea

Published on: September 5, 2018

Area of Science:

Marine ecology
Fisheries science
Behavioral ecology

Background:

Fishing disproportionately removes large predatory fish, impacting marine food webs.
Indirect effects of fishing are often studied via density-mediated trophic cascades.
Behavioral changes in prey species following predator removal can also drive ecological change.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of behaviorally mediated trophic cascades in response to ocean fishing.
To provide a mechanistic understanding of how predator harvest affects herbivore risk and primary producer distribution.
To develop a framework for detecting fishing-induced behaviorally mediated cascades.

Main Methods:

Coupling a foraging model with empirical data from coral reef ecosystems.
Analyzing the indirect effects of predator removal on herbivore behavior and risk perception.
Assessing the subsequent impact on primary producer communities.

Main Results:

Predator harvest can alter the landscape of risk for herbivores.
Behavioral shifts in herbivores lead to significant changes in primary producer distribution.
Behaviorally mediated trophic cascades are a significant pathway of fishing-induced ecological change.

Conclusions:

Fishing-induced trophic cascades can be driven by behavioral changes in prey species, not just density.
Understanding these cascades is crucial for predicting and managing fisheries impacts on marine ecosystems.
The study provides a framework for identifying and quantifying behaviorally mediated cascades in marine environments.