Can predators save prey? Evaluating the evidence of trophic cascades in wild ecosystems with Dr Cristian Navarro Waggershauser

This lecture explores the complex dynamics of trophic cascades and the challenges of studying them. We evaluate the evidence that supports the existence of trophic cascades in wild communities of vertebrate animals, using the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction as a focal case-study, and their potential role as conservation tools. We then use this international scene of research to frame our own case-study in Scotland, and conclude by highlighting the scientific rigor needed to understand and document their existence and impacts.  

Dr Cristian Navarro Waggershauser is an ecologist with a background on forest management, biodiversity, and the application of molecular tools to study species interactions. Currently based at Institute of Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at UHI Inverness, Cristian collaborates with Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms Connect, among other government agencies, NGOs, and academic organizations on projects exploring forest and peatland ecosystems. Cristian currently supervises two PhD students exploring the role of feral pigs in Scottish landscapes and the combined effects of fire and peatland restoration towards soil communities. Through these efforts, Cristian aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of ecological systems and sustainable land management practices.

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