2 - Predation Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is consumer-resource interaction
An ecological relationship where one species (the consumer) derives energy or nutrients from another (the resource)
What is predation
A consumer (predator) hunts, kills, and eats another organism (prey)
Why is it important to study predation
To understand consumer-resource dynamics, analyse ecosystem balance, investigate species adaptations, and predict population changes
What is taxonomic classification in consumer-resource interactions
Classification based on the species involved
What is functional classification in consumer-resource interactions
Classification based on the role each species plays in the interaction
What are the main foraging strategies
Sit-and-wait (ambush)
Active foraging
Give examples of sit-and-wait and active foragers
Sit-and-wait: Ammoxenus amphalodes
Active: Hodotermes mossambicus, Coccinella septempunctata
Why is a broad diet beneficial
It increases adaptability and resilience in changing environments
What is a top (apex) predator
A predator not preyed upon by any other species
A predator not preyed upon by any other species
A predator that maintains the diversity and structure of an ecosystem. Its removal can cause dramatic shifts
What is apparent competition
When two prey species indirectly compete for survival through a shared predator
What is a trophic cascade
When the effects of a predator ripple through a food web, affecting multiple trophic levels
Do predators limit prey populations
Yes, but the effects are complex and depend on ecological context
What happened to deer populations during COVID-19 in the UK
Changes in human activity and predator behaviour affected deer numbers
What is a Type I predator response
Linear increase in prey consumption with no saturation; rare (e.g. filter feeders)
What is a Type II predator response
Consumption rises with prey density but slows due to handling time; common (e.g. wolves and caribou)
What is a Type III predator response
S-shaped curve: low consumption at low density, rapid rise at intermediate density, then plateau
Are predator-prey systems stable
They can be, depending on factors like prey availability and habitat structure
What is the Lotka-Volterra model
A mathematical model describing predator-prey dynamics
LV Model assumptions
- Prey grow exponentially without predators
- Predators starve without prey
- Predator numbers are proportional to prey population
What is a real-world example of the Lotka-Volterra model?
Lynx and snowshoe hare cycles
What is predator-prey coevolution
Reciprocal adaptations in predators and prey
What is the Red Queen Hypothesis
Species must constantly evolve to maintain their relative fitness
What are examples of physical defences in prey
Shells (e.g. turtles)
Spines (e.g. porcupines)
Armour (e.g. armadillos)
