Qualitative effects of inducible defenses in trophic chains

By means of qualitative techniques we analyze the consequences of inducible defenses of species embedded in trophic chains on the community stability and responses of population equilibrium densities to press perturbations. Our results show that the inclusion of inducible defenses in trophic chains leads to profound changes in system dynamics. Inducible defenses increase the likelihood of instability, especially when exhibited by species of lower trophic levels. We obtained biologically reasonable feedback conditions that must be satisfied to ensure stability. Species responses to press perturbation are modified by inducible defenses and their associated costs in multiple ways. Many of the direct effects in the community are reinforced, while indirect effects are either weakened, if they propagate in a top–down direction, or are unaffected if they propagate from basal species. The dominant view of inducible defenses as a stabilizing force seems to be valid only within a biologically constrained parameter space.