How do predator/prey relationships affect populations?
A predator-prey relationship tends to keep the populations of both species in balance. This is shown by the graph in Figure below. As the prey population increases, there is more food for predators. So, after a slight lag, the predator population increases as well.
How does predation cause a growing population to slow down?
First, predation acts to increase growth rate by thinning the density of prey populations, which releases survivors from competition. At the same time, predators intimidate prey into decreasing their feeding activity and increasing refuge use, causing prey to grow more slowly.
What is the effect of predation?
In predation, one organism kills and consumes another. Predation provides energy to prolong the life and promote the reproduction of the organism that does the killing, the predator, to the detriment of the organism being consumed, the prey.
How does the predation affect the ecosystem?
Predators have profound effects throughout their ecosystems. Dispersing rich nutrients and seeds from foraging, they influence the structure of ecosystems. And, by controlling the distribution, abundance, and diversity of their prey, they regulate lower species in the food chain, an effect known as trophic cascades.
How does predation benefit the prey population?
Predators remove vulnerable prey, such as the old, injured, sick, or very young, leaving more food for the survival and success of healthy prey animals. Also, by controlling the size of prey populations, predators help slow down the spread of disease.
How does predation affect evolution?
"Organisms evolve over the long term in response to their enemies, and with increased predation intensity more species evolve." The second hypothesis is that as biodiversity increased, by chance predators with more complex feeding strategies evolved.
How do predators affect population?
As predator populations increase, they put greater strain on the prey populations and act as a top-down control, pushing them toward a state of decline. Thus both availability of resources and predation pressure affect the size of prey populations.
How does predation influence the evolution of predators and prey?
As predators reduce the number of prey, they become less satiated, raising the risk of capture for prey individuals. This increases the selection for resistance on the part of prey, which leads to a reduced predator population and selection to reduce costly defensive traits.
What is the ecological impact of predation in term of species population?
Predation can have large effects on prey populations and on community structure. Predators can increase diversity in communities by preying on competitive dominant species or by reducing consumer pressure on foundation species.