TopDownRegulationsmechanismen
Top-down regulation refers to the control of lower-level system components by higher-level agents or structures. In ecology, top-down regulation describes how predators or higher trophic levels limit the abundance or behavior of prey species, generating trophic cascades that can affect vegetation, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem processes. It is often contrasted with bottom-up regulation, where resource availability and primary production constrain lower levels.
In organizational and governmental contexts, top-down regulation denotes rules, standards, or policies issued by central authorities
In neuroscience and cognitive science, top-down processing refers to influence from higher-level cognitive states, such as
Historical development: Ecologists in the mid-20th century debated the prevalence of top-down versus bottom-up control, with
Measurement and modeling: Researchers use experiments, observational data, population dynamics models, and meta-analyses to assess the
See also: trophic cascade, bottom-up regulation, hierarchical control, executive function, regulatory capture.