Why are Apex predators so important for ecosystems?

It's about the importance of the other apex predators. Humanity is more of a super-predator, operating in an unsustainable fashion. Apex predators serve to keep prey numbers in check. By weeding out the slow, weak, and dying animals, they increase the health of the population as a whole. read more

Healthy apex predators mean a healthier ecosystem all around. As they sit at the top of the local ecosystem, the health of these top-level predators can provide an indication of the health of the ecosystem as a whole. read more

To understand why Earth's top predators matter (and why they're vulnerable), we need to start at the bottom. All ecosystems have a fixed energy budget, dictated by the number of primary producers—plants on the land, photosynthetic microbes in the ocean. read more

Apex predators are key to the health of an ecosystem. They maintain the balance between prey species and the rest of the system. Without them, everything gets out of balance, leading to cycles of population explosions and crashes, depleted lands, stunted forests, and flooding rivers. read more