Paradoxes or theoretical failures? The jury is still out

Jensen, Christopher X. Jon; Ginzburg, Lev

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.05.001

Cited by 69 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…It should also be noted that there is reason to question whether the paradox of enrichment is truly a predication that needs explanation or is instead simply a theoretical failure-a result, perhaps, of the assumption that predator-prey relationships are preydependent rather than predator-dependent (under extreme predator dependence, paradox of enrichment-type effects are absent) [23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal effects on offspring consumption can stabilize fluctuating predator–prey systems

2015

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Maternal effects, where the conditions experienced by mothers affect the phenotype of their offspring, are widespread in nature and have the potential to influence population dynamics. However, they are very rarely included in models of population dynamics. Here, we investigate a recently discovered maternal effect, where maternal food availability affects the feeding rate of offspring so that well-fed mothers produce fast-feeding offspring.To understand how this maternal effect influences population dynamics, we explore novel predator -prey models where the consumption rate of predators is modified by changes in maternal prey availability. We address the 'paradox of enrichment', a theoretical prediction that nutrient enrichment destabilizes populations, leading to cycling behaviour and an increased risk of extinction, which has proved difficult to confirm in the wild. Our models show that enriched populations can be stabilized by maternal effects on feeding rate, thus presenting an intriguing potential explanation for the general absence of 'paradox of enrichment' behaviour in natural populations. This stabilizing influence should also reduce a population's risk of extinction and vulnerability to harvesting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal effects on offspring consumption can stabilize fluctuating predator–prey systems

2015

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“…Several field studies have suggested that the paradox of enrichment does not exist in natural food webs (e.g., McCauley and Murdoch 1990). Thus, the paradox of enrichment is an unsolved problem among community ecology issues, and theoretical studies continue to attempt to resolve the paradox or explain the lack of the paradox in nature (Jensen and Ginzburg 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imperfect optimal foraging and the paradox of enrichment

Mougi

Nishimura

2008

Theor Ecol

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We show that the paradox of enrichment can be theoretically resolved in a flexible predator-prey system in which the predator practices imperfect optimal foraging. A previous study showed that perfect optimal foraging can mitigate increases in the amplitude of population oscillations associated with enrichment, but it did not show a stabilization pattern. Our results show that imperfect optimal foraging can stabilize the system and resolve the paradox of enrichment under nonequilibrium dynamics. Furthermore, the degree of stabilization with enrichment was stronger when the imperfection of optimal foraging was larger.

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“…Resolution of this paradoxical prediction is a challenging theoretical problem in ecology. Many theoretical studies have proposed ways in which the paradox might be resolved theoretically (reviewed in Jensen & Ginzburg 2005). Although they capture the important aspects of the natural world, most of these studies assume fixed predator-prey interaction links (Gilpin 1975;Arditi & Ginzburg 1989;Kretzschmar et al 1993;Abrams & Walters 1996;Arditi et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The paradox of enrichment in an adaptive world

Mougi

Nishimura

2008

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Paradoxically, enrichment can destabilize a predator-prey food web. While adaptive dynamics can greatly influence the stability of interaction systems, few theoretical studies have examined the effect of the adaptive dynamics of interaction-related traits on the possibility of resolution of the paradox of enrichment. We consider the evolution of attack and defence traits of a predator and two prey species in a one predator-two prey system in which the predator practises optimal diet use. The results showed that optimal foraging alone cannot eliminate a pattern of destabilization with enrichment, but trait evolution of the predator or prey can change the pattern to one of stabilization, implying a possible resolution of the paradox of enrichment. Furthermore, trait evolution in all species can broaden the parameter range of stabilization. Importantly, rapid evolution can stabilize this system, but weaken its stability in the face of enrichment.

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Paradoxes or theoretical failures? The jury is still out

Cited by 69 publications

References 59 publications

Maternal effects on offspring consumption can stabilize fluctuating predator–prey systems

Maternal effects on offspring consumption can stabilize fluctuating predator–prey systems

Imperfect optimal foraging and the paradox of enrichment

The paradox of enrichment in an adaptive world

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