● One can think of `color{violet}("predation")` as `color{violet}("nature’s")` way of transferring to higher `color{violet}("trophic")` levels the energy fixed by `color{violet}("plants")`.
● When we think of `color{violet}("predator")` and `color{violet}("prey")`, most probably it is the tiger and the deer that readily come to our mind, but a sparrow eating any seed is no less a predator.
● Although `color{violet}("animals eating plants")` are categorized separately as `color{brown}("herbivores,")` they are, in a broad `color{violet}("ecological")` context, not very different from `color{violet}("predators.")`
● Besides acting as `color{brown}("‘conduits’")` for energy transfer across `color{violet}("trophic levels")`, predators play other important roles.
● They keep `color{violet}("prey populations")` under control.
● But for `color{violet}("predators, prey")` species could achieve very high `color{violet}("population densities")` and cause `color{violet}("ecosystem instability.")`
● When certain exotic species are introduced into a `color{violet}("geographical area,")` they become invasive and start spreading fast because the `color{violet}("invaded land")` does not have its `color{violet}("natural predators.")`
● The `color{brown}("prickly pear cactus")` introduced into Australia in the early 1920’s caused havoc by spreading rapidly into millions of hectares of rangeland.
● Finally, the invasive cactus was brought `color{violet}("under control")` only after a `color{violet}("cactus-feeding predator")` (a `color{brown}("moth")`) from its natural habitat was introduced into the country.
● `color{violet}("Biological control")` methods adopted in `color{violet}("agricultural pest control")` are based on the ability of the `color{violet}("predator")` to regulate `color{violet}("prey population.")`
● `color{violet}("Predators")` also help in maintaining species `color{violet}("diversity")` in a `color{violet}("community")`, by `color{violet}("reducing the intensity")` of competition among `color{violet}("competing prey")` species.
● In the `color{violet}("rocky intertidal communities")` of the American Pacific Coast the starfish `color{brown}("Pisaster")` is an important predator.
● In a field experiment, when all the starfish were removed from an enclosed `color{violet}("intertidal area,")` more than 10 species of invertebrates became extinct within a year, because of `color{violet}("interspecific competition")`.
● If a `color{violet}("predator")` is too `color{violet}("efficient")` and `color{violet}("overexploits")` its prey, then the prey might become extinct and following it, the `color{violet}("predator")` will also become extinct for lack of food.
● This is the reason why `color{violet}("predators")` in nature are `color{brown}("‘prudent’")`
● One can think of `color{violet}("predation")` as `color{violet}("nature’s")` way of transferring to higher `color{violet}("trophic")` levels the energy fixed by `color{violet}("plants")`.
● When we think of `color{violet}("predator")` and `color{violet}("prey")`, most probably it is the tiger and the deer that readily come to our mind, but a sparrow eating any seed is no less a predator.
● Although `color{violet}("animals eating plants")` are categorized separately as `color{brown}("herbivores,")` they are, in a broad `color{violet}("ecological")` context, not very different from `color{violet}("predators.")`
● Besides acting as `color{brown}("‘conduits’")` for energy transfer across `color{violet}("trophic levels")`, predators play other important roles.
● They keep `color{violet}("prey populations")` under control.
● But for `color{violet}("predators, prey")` species could achieve very high `color{violet}("population densities")` and cause `color{violet}("ecosystem instability.")`
● When certain exotic species are introduced into a `color{violet}("geographical area,")` they become invasive and start spreading fast because the `color{violet}("invaded land")` does not have its `color{violet}("natural predators.")`
● The `color{brown}("prickly pear cactus")` introduced into Australia in the early 1920’s caused havoc by spreading rapidly into millions of hectares of rangeland.
● Finally, the invasive cactus was brought `color{violet}("under control")` only after a `color{violet}("cactus-feeding predator")` (a `color{brown}("moth")`) from its natural habitat was introduced into the country.
● `color{violet}("Biological control")` methods adopted in `color{violet}("agricultural pest control")` are based on the ability of the `color{violet}("predator")` to regulate `color{violet}("prey population.")`
● `color{violet}("Predators")` also help in maintaining species `color{violet}("diversity")` in a `color{violet}("community")`, by `color{violet}("reducing the intensity")` of competition among `color{violet}("competing prey")` species.
● In the `color{violet}("rocky intertidal communities")` of the American Pacific Coast the starfish `color{brown}("Pisaster")` is an important predator.
● In a field experiment, when all the starfish were removed from an enclosed `color{violet}("intertidal area,")` more than 10 species of invertebrates became extinct within a year, because of `color{violet}("interspecific competition")`.
● If a `color{violet}("predator")` is too `color{violet}("efficient")` and `color{violet}("overexploits")` its prey, then the prey might become extinct and following it, the `color{violet}("predator")` will also become extinct for lack of food.
● This is the reason why `color{violet}("predators")` in nature are `color{brown}("‘prudent’")`