Understanding food web dynamics: Ignoring generalists is leading us astray
Our understanding of food web dynamics has come a long way since Bob Paine reinvigorated the study of species interaction networks. Our mathematical theory for predator-prey interactions and food web stability in particular has progressed in leaps-and-bounds. Nevertheless, I will argue that we — as both theoreticians and empiricists — are largely ignoring the interactions of generalist predators by assuming that the (more feasible) study of specialist predators will suffice. Despite my academic grandfather’s call for man