Mesopredator

Mesopredator is a term used in ecology to describe a mid-ranking predator that occupies the middle of a food web. Mesopredators feed on small vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as eggs and carrion, and they themselves are preyed upon by apex predators such as large carnivores and birds of prey. The term contrasts with apex predators at the top of the food chain and with herbivores and omnivores at lower trophic levels.

Mesopredators influence prey populations and can shape community structure through predation pressure and competition. Because they often exploit human-modified landscapes, they can regulate pest species but also prey on birds and small mammals that farmers value for pest control. In some ecosystems, the removal of apex predators leads to mesopredator release, where mesopredator populations surge and exert greater predation on native species, altering biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Common examples include raccoons, red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, and other mid-sized carnivores. The specific set of mesopredators varies by region and ecosystem, and many species switch between mesopredator and apex roles depending on the presence of larger predators.

Conservation and wildlife management recognize the indirect effects of mesopredators. Protecting apex predators and maintaining habitat connectivity can help regulate mesopredator populations and protect vulnerable species. Conversely, human actions such as extermination campaigns or road mortality can increase mesopredator impacts locally, with cascading consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services.