Home Forum Dictionary Articles Tutorials Books Directory Share your work


Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Dictionary » P » Predator

Predator

Definition

noun, plural: predators

(ecology) An organism that preys upon other organisms.


Supplement

In ecology, predators are those animals that live by preying on other organisms for food. Many predators hunt and eventually kill their prey, such as lion preying upon a buffalo, mantis eating a bee, baleen whale consuming millions of microscopic planktons, etc.


Word origin: Latin praedātor, pillager, from praedārī, to plunder
Related forms: predation (noun)

Compare: prey


Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page



Results from our forum


Question on Predators/ NS

They are not. No predator is going to create any variations in the genome. The only thing they can do is to select for variations that would make the prey less likely to be eaten by the carp (better avoidance, bad taste,...). Those ...

See entire post
by canalon
Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:35 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Question on Predators/ NS
Replies: 6
Views: 157

Why are the offsprings of some animals large but some small?

... different portions of the development of their offspring inside or outside of their body, it depends on many factors including whether it is a predator or prey, its environmental conditions etc. (sorry cant think of an example at the moment)

See entire post
by futurezoologist
Sun May 31, 2009 11:15 am
 
Forum: Zoology Discussion
Topic: Why are the offsprings of some animals large but some small?
Replies: 3
Views: 405

predator/prey interaction

... a significant impact on the distribution of their prey species. In complicated communities, like the intertidal community, what effect might a predator have on prey distribution when interspecific competition is going on between 2 prey species? a. whatever the effect, it will always favor the ...

See entire post
by missy42
Fri May 01, 2009 6:41 pm
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: predator/prey interaction
Replies: 0
Views: 528

barnacle ditribution

... saline e. interspecies competition 3.As barnacles, what biological role(s) do B balanoides and C. stellatus play in the biological community? a. predator b. keystone species c. biotic, predator and prey d. biotic prey e. prey f. biotic factor g. biotic predator 4.Connell removed C. Stellatus ...

See entire post
by missy42
Fri May 01, 2009 6:35 pm
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: barnacle ditribution
Replies: 4
Views: 778

Conditions for a stable ecosystem? (for a simulation)

... I love the cartoonish feel. This is certainly something that - once refined - could be a useful educational tool. Here are some suggestions: Predator adjustments: -decrease the rate of reproduction. This can be accomplished in a couple of ways. a) require a higher amount of energy before ...

See entire post
by AstusAleator
Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:07 am
 
Forum: Ecology
Topic: Conditions for a stable ecosystem? (for a simulation)
Replies: 11
Views: 3217
View all matching forum results

This page was last modified 14:21, 10 September 2009. This page has been accessed 12,243 times. 
What links here | Related changes | Permanent link