Predation

We explain what predation is, the types of predation that exist and examples. Also, what does the competition consist of?

What is predation?

Predation is a biological relationship in which one individual of an animal species hunts another to survive.

In this biological relationship the predator or predator, which is the one who hunts, and the prey, which is the hunted which transfers its energy to the hunter. There are very few times in which this relationship occurs between two individuals of the same species. Furthermore, within nature, it can happen that a predator is also the prey of another species.

For example, if a lion hunts a zebra, the zebra would be the prey but, at the same time, it feeds on plants, so it is also a predator. This example also demonstrates that predators are not necessarily carnivores.

Predatory species are characterized by having certain adaptations to be able to pursue and capture prey. For example, have certain olfactory organs that allow them to detect their prey or they are excellent walkers.

At the same time, prey also develop certain adaptations to defend themselves. An example could be spines or a certain body coloration that allows them to camouflage themselves in the environment in which they are found.

See also: Consumer organizations

Types of predation

In nature, different types of predation are identified, which are classified as follows:

• Competence It is a relationship that occurs between individuals who require the same resource that is in finite or limited quantities, which leads them to compete with each other to obtain it. For example, when two birds compete for the same nesting space, a competitive relationship occurs. In this case, the relationship is intraspecific (between different species) because both are of the same species. But if, for example, two plants of different species compete for access to sunlight, this is an interspecific relationship (between the same species).
• Parasitism In this relationship, the predator has a much smaller volume than the prey and feeds on it without killing it (at least in the short term) because it needs its prey to remain alive to continue using it.
• Mutualism In this type of relationship, which is characterized by being temporary, both individuals benefit.
• Commensalism In this relationship, one of the individuals (the predator) benefits, while the other (the prey) is neither harmed nor benefited.
• Herbivory In this relationship, the prey is a plant.

Examples of predation

In nature, countless examples of predation can be observed, some of them are the following:

• Birds that feed on insects and parasites that live on the backs of horses.
• The lions that feed on buffaloes and zebras.
• The tiger when hunting wild boars.
• Fish when hunted by lions.
• The bear when it feeds on salmon.
• The wolf at the time of catching an elk.
• Jaguars when they hunt deer.
• The fish that are hunted by seals.
• Frogs feeding on flies.
• The mouse when it is stalked by a cat.
• The tiger at the time of preying on wild boars.
• The gazelle when it is preyed by a tiger.
• Worms preyed on by tijones.
• Fish when they are prey to sharks.

Competition and predation

Competition is a type of predation, which may or may not occur between individuals of the same species. This relationship consists of the competition of two or more individuals for certain limited resources. For example, in a bed where there are numerous plants (of the same or different species), all of them will compete for sunlight, water or soil nutrients.

The way of life of a species is called a niche, that is, the resources, interactions and conditions you need to stay alive. Therefore, when within the same habitat there are two individuals that have the same niche, one of them does not survive and becomes extinct.

On the other hand, those individuals that have niches that partially overlap can coexist and survive in the same habitat.

There are two types of competition:

• For exploitation It happens when one species uses a resource more efficiently than the rest. This harms the rest of the individuals because the resource they need for their survival is available in few doses.
• By interference In this case, an individual interferes in the way of obtaining food and does so through acts that put the reproduction or survival of the rest at risk. For example, he acquires food aggressively.

Other types of interspecific relationships

Some examples of predation relationships that can occur between individuals of different species are the following:

• tenantism This relationship occurs when an individual takes refuge in the body of another, obtaining some benefit, while the individual who acts as a refuge is neither harmed nor benefited.
• Protocooperation This relationship takes shape when two populations of individuals or two individuals benefit mutually. However, it is not an essential relationship for individuals to survive; they can do so even when this bond does not occur.
• Symbiosis It is a very intimate relationship, which is beneficial for at least one of its members.
• Exploitation In this relationship, one of the members is harmed, while the other obtains some type of benefit.
• Foresy In a relationship like this, one individual uses another without harming him, to use him as a means of transportation.
• Thanatochresis In this relationship, an organism uses the remains of other dead individuals to benefit in some way.
• Epibiosis. In this relationship, one of the individuals is harmless and lives on the body of another organism.

References

• “Predation and herbivory” in Khan Academy.
• “Predation and parasitism” in Educ.ar.
• «Niches and competition» in Khan Academy.