PREDATION

branch ECOLOGY

=Predation= Predation is a form of exploitation where a predator species feeds on living prey species [image:http://i.imgur.com/falFLEi.png?3] '''Ture Predation''' True predators kill and eat other living individuals. Predators of this type don't always eat their prey entirely. For example, some predators cannot digest bones, while others can. Some may eat only part of an organism, as in grazing (see below), but still consistently cause its direct death. [image:http://i.imgur.com/8iCT841.jpg?2] '''Grazers & Browsers''' Grazers are species that generally feed on plants like grasses. Animals that eat the leaves and fruit of larger, higher growing plants are often referred to as browsers. These herbivores may kill the plants they feed off, but generally they only eat a small part of each plant allowing it to regrow once again. ==Predator-Prey Relationships== [image:http://i.imgur.com/HR13V04.png?2] As predators are often dependent on prey as a food source, the number of predators will always lag (follow slightly after) the number of prey. If the number of prey increases, an increase in the number of predators will follow. Generally the numbers of predators is less than the prey. This is because it usually takes multiple preys to sustain each predator. [image:http://i.imgur.com/DIkgITO.png]