Chapter 14: Predation

Question 1

A type of predator that kills its prey more or less immediately upon capture

Answer 1

true predator

Question 2

Movement of predators into areas of high prey density

Answer 2

aggregative response

Question 3

The act of turning to more abundant, alternate prey

Answer 3

prey switching

Question 4

Relationship in which one living organism serves as a food source for another

Answer 4

predation

Question 5

Tendency of animals to harvest food efficiently, selecting food sizes or food patches that supply maximum food intake for energy expended

Answer 5

optimal foraging theory

Question 6

Joint evolution of two or more non-interbreeding species that have a close ecological relationship;

Through reciprocal selective pressures, the evolution of one species in the relationship is partially dependent on the evolution of the other

Answer 6

coevolution

Question 7

Evolved characteristics that help prey avoid detection or capture

Answer 7

predator defenses

Question 8

The use by organisms of bitter, distasteful, or toxic secretions that deter potential enemies

Answer 8

chemical defense

Question 9

A prey species assumes the appearance of some feature in the environment, such as a leaf, to avoid detection

Answer 9

object resemblance

Question 10

Coloration of organisms that makes them resemble or blend into their habitat or background

Answer 10

cryptic coloration

Question 11

Hidden markings on animals that, when quickly exposed, startle or divert the attention of a potential predator

Answer 11

flashing coloration

Question 12

Resemblance of a palatable or harmless species, the mimic, to an unpalatable or dangerous species, the model

Answer 12

Batesian mimicry

Question 13

Also known as warning coloration

Bold, conspicuous color or markings on an animal that serve as a warning to discourage potential predators

Often possessed by animals that are toxic to predators or use other chemical defenses

Answer 13

aposematism

Question 14

When many unpalatable or venomous species share a similar color pattern

Answer 14

Müllerian mimicry

Question 15

Aggressive and submissive postures or actions that threaten or deter enemies

Answer 15

behavioral defenses

Question 16

Hard outer covering of an animal body, such as shells of turtles and spines of porcupines, that deters or makes the owner somewhat invulnerable to most enemies

Answer 16

protective armor

Question 17

A predator defense mechanism involving the physiological timing of reproduction by a prey species, plant or animal, to produce a maximum number of seeds or young within a short period—more than predators can possibly consume—thus allowing a greater percentage of offspring to escape

Answer 17

predator satiation

Question 18

Fixed defense of an organism, such as object resemblance, that deters predators

Answer 18

constitutive defense

Question 19

Defense response brought about or induced by the presence or action of a predator;

For example, alarm pheromones

Answer 19

induced defense

Question 20

A type of hunting that means lying in wait for prey to come along

It has a low frequency of success, but requires minimal energy

Ex: some frogs, alligators, crocodiles, lizards, and certain insects

Answer 20

ambush

Question 21

A deliberate form of hunting with a quick attack

The predator’s search time may be great, but pursuit time is minimal

Ex: herons and some cats

Answer 21

stalking

Question 22

A type of hunting that involves minimal search time because the predator usually knows the location of the prey, but pursuit time is usually great

Ex: many hawks, lions, wolves, and insectivorous bats

Answer 22

pursuit

Question 23

What is the difference between stalkers and pursuers?

Answer 23

Stalkers spend more time and energy encountering prey

Pursuers spend more time capturing and handling prey

Question 24

Feeding on plants

Answer 24

herbivory

Question 25

Chemicals that are not involved in the basic metabolism of plant cells

Answer 25

secondary compounds

Question 26

The secondary compounds that are produced by the plant in large quantities

Answer 26

quantitative inhibitors

Question 27

The secondary compounds that function as defenses against herbivory that are present in small to minute quantities

Answer 27

qualitative inhibitors

Question 28

Let’s talk about the snowshoe hare-lynx-horned owl interaction

Answer 28

This is an example of a three-level feeding interaction that shows how plant-herbivore and herbivore-carnivore systems are closely related

It involves the cycle of vegetation, snowshoe hares, and their predators (lynx, coyote, and horned owl)

Excessive browsing by large hare population leads to food shortage and poor food quality

Malnourished hares fall quickly to predators, who then arrive at their own food shortage, thus leading to reproduction failure and population decline

Plant growth rebounds upon being released from excessive browsing by hares, who recover because of both plant recovery and decline in predators, and the cycle begins again

Question 29

A type of harvest that allows population numbers to be maintained or increase over time

Answer 29

sustainable harvest

Question 30

The maximum rate at which individuals can be harvested from a population without reducing its size;

Recruitment balances harvesting

Answer 30

maximum sustainable yield