For years, ecology explained nature with a perfect pyramid. Plants at the base, herbivores in the middle, and few predators at the top. This scheme works for energy, but not for counting species.
Energy decreases as it ascends the food chain. However, this does not imply that biological diversity also decreases. Confusing both concepts led to incomplete interpretations.
New global analyses show that the real distribution is different. Biodiversity is not arranged in a pyramid shape. In many cases, it resembles a more balanced figure.
Pyramidal energy, almost balanced diversity
In each trophic level, energy is lost as heat. That’s why there is less biomass and fewer individuals among predators. This physical limit is unquestionable.
But the number of species responds to other processes. Evolution, specialization, and time play a key role, as diversity does not necessarily follow the rules of energy.
The result is a clear conceptual separation. Energy is organized in a pyramid, and species richness follows different dynamics.
A global pattern that repeats on Earth
The analysis included most known terrestrial animals. Tetrapods and arthropods from different ecosystems were studied, resulting in a surprisingly uniform pattern.
On average, herbivores and predators have similar proportions, while mixed consumers represent a smaller fraction. The whole resembles more a “square” than a pyramid.
In vertebrates, the phenomenon is even more striking. Most species belong to higher trophic levels. Lions, wolves, snakes, and birds of prey are not marginal exceptions.
Arthropods, key to understanding real diversity
Arthropods contribute a huge variety of predatory species. Spiders, scorpions, mantises, and many insects hunt actively, so their diversity flattens the global pattern.
This group balances the total distribution of biodiversity, demonstrating that predation is a successful evolutionary strategy. It also explains why the classic model is incomplete.
Moreover, this distribution repeats among different types of communities. Forests, savannas, and other systems show similar proportions, given that the trophic structure is more stable than previously thought.
More predatory species: effects on ecosystems
A greater diversity of predators strengthens ecological balance. Each species regulates different prey or acts in specific microhabitats. This reduces population explosions and environmental degradation.
The variety of predators also increases system stability. If one species disappears, others can fulfill similar functions. This cushions the impacts of disturbances and climate changes.
When diversity is lost at higher levels, the effect amplifies, altering entire trophic networks and key ecological processes. More predators do not mean more pressure, but greater regulation.
Abundance is not the same as diversity
Predators are often less numerous in individuals, making them more vulnerable to local extinctions. But that does not mean they are few in number of species.
Specialization allows many species to coexist. Some hunt specific prey or use different environments, so evolutionary turnover keeps diversity high in the long term.
Therefore, low abundance does not equate to low ecological value. Species richness plays a silent but essential role. Ignoring it weakens the understanding of natural functioning.
A key challenge for modern conservation
For decades, predators were seen as dispensable. In many cases, they were hunted or eliminated. However, this view ignores their real weight in biodiversity.
If higher levels concentrate so many species, their loss is severe. Not only are ecological functions affected, but diversity is also reduced. The impact is greater than previously assumed.
Conserving predators is not an ecological luxury, but a condition for stable and resilient ecosystems. Nature is not a fragile pyramid, but a balanced network.
