![]() ![]() Baleen whales, for example, eat millions of microscopic plankton at once, the prey being broken down well after entering the whale. In some cases the prey organism may die in the mouth or digestive system of the predator. Some predators kill large prey and dismember or chew it prior to eating it, such as a jaguar, while others may eat their (usually much smaller) prey whole, as does a bottlenose dolphin or any snake. ![]() ![]() Predators may hunt actively for prey, or sit and wait for prey to approach within striking distance, as in ambush predators. Whereas other types of predator all harm their prey in some way, this form results in their instant death. Additionally, whether or not the prey are directly killed by the predator is considered, with the first and last cases involving certain death.Ī true predator is one which kills and eats another organism. Two factors are considered here: How close the predator and prey are physically (in the latter two cases the term prey may be replaced with host). Instead of focusing on what they eat, this system classifies predators by the way in which they eat, and the general nature of the interaction between predator and prey species. Ways of classifying predation surveyed here include grouping by trophic level or diet, by specialization, and by the nature of their interaction with prey.Ĭlassification of predators by the extent to which they feed on and interact with their prey is one way ecologists may wish to categorize the different types of predation. The unifying theme in all classifications of predation is the predator lowering the fitness of its prey, or put another way, it reduces its prey's chances of survival, reproduction, or both. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |