Mesopredator

A mesopredator is a predator that occupies a mid-ranking trophic level in a food web. There is no standard definition of a mesopredator, but mesopredators are usually medium-sized carnivorous or omnivorous animals, such as raccoons, foxes, or coyotes. They are often defined by contrast from apex predators or prey in a particular food web. Mesopredators typically prey on smaller animals.

Mesopredators vary across different ecosystems. Sometimes, the same species is a mesopredator in one ecosystem and an apex predator in another ecosystem, depending on the composition of that ecosystem. When new species are introduced into an ecosystem, the role of the mesopredator often changes; this can also happen if species are removed.

The American Institute of Biological Sciences states that due to the fact that mesopredators are smaller than large carnivores, they are more abundant, and therefore have greater diversity of mesopredator species.[2] Due to their smaller size, mesopredators play a part in the ecosystem of dispersing seeds in open spaces, as well as driving community structure.[2] Mesopredators are also very diverse in comparison to larger carnivores in their behaviour and ecology, from being reclusive to highly social. Their diversity and small size allows them to thrive in a range of habitats than larger carnivores are able to.[2] The population of these smaller carnivores also increases when the presence of a larger carnivore decline. This is known as the 'mesocarnivore release.' According to the National Park Service, "Mesocarnivore release is defined as the expansion in range and/or abundance of a smaller predator following the reduction or removal of a larger predator."[6] One impact of this is that these mesopredators can act as scavengers cleaning up dead animal carcasses discarded by humans in urban areas.[7] Mesopredators' habitat have shifted and changed, due to urbanisation, leading to habitat fragmentation and disturbance, resulting in habitat loss for animals.