Predator Prey Relationships
The predatory actions of some animals upon others are essential for any ecosystem to flourish. This is due to the fact that if there were not predators to eat certain prey then there would be a large increase in the population of one species and that one species could throw off the balance. This would mean for example the black bears of the park did not eat the multitude of deer, including white- tailed deer, that live in the park then a large number of deer would begin to overwhelm the park. This would not only cause fewer areas for other organisms to live, but it would also cause large amounts of vegetation to be consumed by the deer, which would adversely affect the entire environment. The black bears of the park prey on more than just the deer of the park, so there is no fear of a predator eliminating a whole population of any prey.
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One reason that a predator will not eliminate a whole population of prey is that as there is less prey for a predator to consume then less of the predators will survive. The correlation between the number of prey and number of predators can be seen in nearly every environment. The number of prey oscillates due to predator population as well as the resources that they have to eat. The predator population oscillates as well along with the prey’s population. When there is more prey to hunt a larger population of predators is able to be supported. This can be seen in any predator prey relationship, for example the relationship between the Barred Owl and the many squirrels, including the Red Squirrel. The Barred Owl preys on many small mammals like squirrels. Their population fluctuates along with the populations of their prey due to food availability. The Barred Owl has few predators other than an even larger owl, the Great Horned Owl.
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