![]() Carnivory is lethal to the prey, while herbivory and parasitism may or may not be lethal to the prey. Each type of predation can by categorized based on whether or not it results in the death of the prey. There are four commonly recognized types of predation: (1) carnivory, (2) herbivory, (3) parasitism, and (4) mutualism. This definition is applicable to both plants and animals. However, ecologically, predation is defined as any interaction between two organisms that results in a flow of energy between them. It is easy to think of predation in the context of common sense. The skunk releases a toxin or noxious compound that has a foul smell/odor to it The skunk is an example of a prey who uses its chemical defense to scare off predators. The balance between survival of prey and predator is part of the reason that our ecosystem is so diverse. Prey develop defenses against their predators, and predators strive to overcome such obstacles. The food chain is a cycle of predation, and although it is necessary for life to exist, it has to have limits. Plants utilize the sun's energy, animals eat plants and utilize the plants' energy, and some animals eat other animals and utilize their energy. Ultimately, the source of energy for all life originates from the sun. Come to think of it, this was pretty much the same reason why I started eating meat after growing up as a vegetarian.Introduction: Predation She smelled a steak cooking, she wanted to eat it, and it wound up in her mouth. She didn’t know about differing levels of protein, iron, or salt. The hungry doe that I met at the campground certainly had no idea about any of this evolution business. A flexible diet makes an animal more adaptable and more likely to survive than a fully-committed herbivore. They probably ate a lot of meat in the past, their descendants will eventually do so again, and meanwhile they indulge every so often when nobody seems to be paying attention. ![]() Much like many college students I’ve known, the species we think of as herbivores may only be passing through a phase. ![]() These iconic herbivores have a lot of flesh-eating in their past. Hippo ancestors split off from cetaceans about 60 million years ago-yes, whales and dolphins are their close kin-had teeth that suggest an omnivorous diet as well. Early forms of deer about 30 million years ago are thought to have eaten large amounts of grubs, insects, baby birds, eggs, and small mammals in addition to plant matter. When we look at the evolutionary histories of some of these herbivores, we find even more omnivorous behavior in their past. Consuming meat from time to time may be a way for a species to maintain an option on carnivory, which may be the difference between extinction and survival in an emergency. For example, a prolonged drought may cause many herbivores to weaken and die, creating a scavenging opportunity for the survivors. The koala’s strategy works only for as long as there are eucalyptus leaves to eat, whereas raccoons will probably be around long after koalas (currently listed as a threatened species) are extinct.Ī herbivore that is willing to occasionally eat meat has the potential to either exploit an available niche as a predator, or to survive a brief period of starvation by eating meat when plants are scarce. Koalas are a good example of a specialist species, feeding entirely on the leaves of eucalyptus trees. Specialists, on the other hand, tend to exploit one niche very thoroughly and may be able to dominate it for as long as it exists. Generalists, such as raccoons and pigs, can survive in a variety of habitats and climates and can utilize many different food sources.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |