If we wish to preserve the diversity of natural ecosystem...

If we wish to preserve the diversity of natural ecosystem processes, we must preserve the larger ecosystems where the longest food chains are found, ... As ecosystem size decreases (e.g., through the fragmentation of forest patches), we may see the loss of large, often rare, top predators. Those top predators that can survive in smaller ecosystems will likely feed lower in the food chain, which may alter the feeding relations and community structure through out the food web.