Predator-Prey Relationships Flashcards
What is the significance of all living organisms within an ecosystem being interdependent?
- this means that changes in the population size of one species can drastically affect that of another
What is predation?
- a biological interaction where one species kills and eats another species
What does the role that predators play in their environment do?
- helps to create and maintain greater diversity within an ecosystem
How do predators create and maintain greater diversity within an ecosystem in terms of regulation?
- by regulating the abundance and distribution of prey species
- as the predator population increases, the prey population decreases
How do predator and prey evolve in relation to one another?
- they evolve together and are part of the same environment
How do predators create and maintain greater biodiversity within an ecosystem?
- by increasing the biodiversity of communities by preventing a single species from becoming dominant
How do predators create and maintain greater diversity within an ecosystem in terms of genetics?
- by keeping the prey population genetically fit by removing sick, injured and weak individuals
How do predators create and maintain greater diversity within an ecosystem in terms of food?
- by providing vital food sources for scavengers
What does the feeding relationship between the predator and the prey determine?
- determines the size of the two populations by means of a negative feedback mechanism
What happens to the predator population as the prey population decreases due to predator killing?
- the food available for the predators is less
- and so their numbers subsequently decline
What happens to the prey when predator pressure is reduced?
- the numbers of the prey can increase once again
- and the cycle goes on
