Predation

Question 1

predation can be subdivided into what 4 subtypes

Answer 1

predators
herbivores
parasites
parasitoids

Question 2

predators

Answer 2

remove prey from the pop and are often larger than their prey

Question 3

Herbivores

Answer 3

eat whole or parts of plants

Question 4

Parasites

Answer 4

consume parts of living prey
Attach themselves to hosts’s body, fully dependent on host
Do not usually kill host

Question 5

Parasitoids

Answer 5

wasps and flies whose larvae consume tissues of living host
Kill the host
An insect whose larvae live as parasites which eventually kill their hosts,

Question 6

effect of predation on pop size

Answer 6

predator and prey pop size cycle, and are often highly synchronized

Question 7

Lokta Volterra model predicts

Answer 7

oscillations in abundance of predator and prey pop’s, with predator numbers lagging behind

Question 8

Lokta Volterra assumes

Answer 8

predation varies in direct proportion to the probability of a random encounter between a predator and a prey individual, which is the product of the prey and predator populations VP

Question 9

Hypothesis

Answer 9

predators control size of prey pop

Question 10

Predictions

Answer 10

incr in resources for prey won’y incr prey pop size, but incr predator pop size. Changes in prey growth incr only predator pop, indicating that prey’s pop size is controlled by predators

Question 11

application

Answer 11

pest biological control can be better than pesticides

Question 12

application

Answer 12

pest biological control can be better than pesticides

Question 13

Nat select can favour strategies that incr resources

Answer 13

More resources associated with larger size and more offspring

Within pops, genotypes incr predatorial qualities, or better use of resources should be favoured

Question 14

Can predator-prey relationships impact evol of a species

Answer 14

yes

Question 15

Natural selection also favours

Answer 15

strategies to reduce death in prey species- traits that favour hiding, escaping , warning and fighting off predators

Question 16

Examples of traits to ward off predators

Answer 16

cryptic coloration and shapes- passive avoidance of detection

Aposematic coloration- passive avoidance, through advertisement of toxicity

Defense traits- active engagement to delay and prevent attack eg stinging predators

Mimicry-batesian:harmless species resemble harmful ones
Mullerian: several harmful or unpalatable species resemble each other - more easy to elicit avoidance

Question 17

In summary

Answer 17

evidence of strong selection supports the notion that prey/predator interaction is an important evol force

There is a clear selection on predators to adapt to available prey

Also extensive diveristy, ubiquity of anti-predator adaptions, attesting to intense selection by predators