Biology 2483A Lecture 12: 12-Predation.docx
2 Jan 2015
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Introduction: over half the species on earth get energy by feeding on other organisms, in a variety of types of interactions, all are exploitation a relationship in which one organism benefits by feeding on, and directly harming, another. Predator kills and eats other organisms, referred to as prey. Parasite lives in or on another organism (its host), feeding on parts of it. Some parasites (pathogens) cause disease: not all organisms fit neatly into these categories. Some predators, such as wolves, also eat berries, nuts, and leaves: parasitoids are insects that lay an egg on or in another insect host. After hatching, larvae remain in the host, which they eat and often kill. Search techniques: these predators may form a search image of the most common prey type and orient toward that prey, or, learning enables them to become increasingly efficient at capturing the most common prey. In some cases, prey switching is consistent with optimal foraging theory.
