The hypothesis is sometimes also applied to humans as apex predators that produce top-down effects on lower trophic levels. However, it fails to recognize bottom-up effects that anthropogenic land transformations can have on landscapes on which primary producers, prey species, and mesopredators dwell. Possible bottom-up effects on an ecosystem can be from bioclimatic impacts on ecosystem productivity and from anthropogenic habitat alterations.
This concept is sometimes applied to humans as the pinnacle predators that exert top-down influences on lower trophic levels. Nevertheless, it neglects the bottom-up effects that human-induced environmental changes can have on landscapes where primary producers, prey species, and mesopredators reside. Potential bottom-up effects on an ecosystem can stem from climatic impacts on productivity and from alterations to habitats caused by humans.