Bottom-up control refers to a process in ecosystems where the primary producers, such as phytoplankton and aquatic plants, dictate the abundance and diversity of higher trophic levels, including herbivores and predators. This concept emphasizes that the availability of resources at the base of the food web plays a crucial role in shaping community structure and productivity. In aquatic systems, factors like light penetration and nutrient availability directly influence primary production, which in turn affects the entire food web.
congrats on reading the definition of Bottom-up control. now let's actually learn it.