Question

Explain how predator and prey populations limit each other growth rates.

Answer 1

Notice that independently, the prey population goes up, if the predator's population is low. One interpretation is that there are not enough predators to really make a dent in the prey's population. But as the prey's population increases, they become easier targets for the predators since there are so many. As predators feed on prey, the predator's population increases (more food, can sustain a bigger population) and the prey's population decreases. As less and less prey are available to hunt, the predator's population also decreases.

Note that it need not be this cyclical, the trend can go to an equilibrium point where the populations do not fluctuate all that much.

the predator eats the prey limiting them to not overly grow. And the prey do not overly grow limiting the predators population to not overly grow as well. hope that helps

Answer 2

The predators feed on the prey population leading to their increased mortality rates. As a result, there will be less prey for the comparatively larger predator population. Therefore, due to the scarcity of food resources (prey) the growth rate of the predators would also be lowered.

Further Explanation:

When one species hunt on another species for food, the hunting species is called a predator while the other species to be fed on is called the prey. This is called predator-prey relation where both the species interact with each other. For example, lion feeds on zebra, fox on a rabbit, grasshopper on leaves.

The predator and its specific prey population respond to each other dynamically. This means when the prey population for example rabbits, is over-exploited by a predator population or decreases due to a disease, the predator population goes down. Also, when the rabbit population increases drastically, the number of predators in the food chain increases due to the abundance of food. Some predators first kill the prey before feeding on them while others feed on the live prey.  

With the development of species, some species flourished to exploit other species as food. The predator species in the course of time survived to develop certain strategies to hunt the prey. For example, the predators use camouflage, speed, and tolerance against poison producing prey. Similarly, the pre-species also evolved their strategies in order to avoid being recognized by a predator.

The survival number and reproduction of the prey population is regulated by the population of the predator. The relationship between the predator and the prey can be more complex because in certain circumstances one species might behave like a predator whereas with different species might act like prey.

When a predator feeds on a specific kind of prey, it might directly affect its own population in the long term. This is because the entire predator population is dependent on just one type of prey species which means in the coming future the number of prey will decrease. As a result, the food resource for the predator population will also decrease. This might result in direct competition among the members of the predator population, killing each other for food resources. Therefore, because of the scarcity of prey as well as direct competition both predators and the prey population restrict each other’s growth.

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Biology

Chapter: Ecological Interactions

Keywords:

Predator, prey, direct competition, camouflage, poison, speed, population, survival number, food resources.