ch 13 predation and herbivory

introduced species

a species that is introduced to a region of the world were s has not historically existed

invasive species

an introduced species that spreads rapidly and has negative effects on other species, human recreation, or human economies

biological control

introductions of one species to help control the abundance of another species

mesopredators

relatively small carnivores that consume herbivores

top predators

predators that typically consume both herbivores and mesopredators

Lotka-Volterra model

a model of predator-prey interactions that incorporates oscillations in the abundances of predator and prey populations and shows predator numbers lagging behind those of their prey

equilibrium isocline

the population size of one species that causes the population of another species to be stable

joint population trajectory

the simultaneous trajectory of predator and prey populations

joint equilibrium point

the point at which the equilibrium isoclines for predator and prey populations cross

functional response

the relationship between the density of prey and an individual predator’s rate of food consumption

type I functional response

a functional response in which a predator’s rate of prey consumption increases in a linear fashion with an increase in prey density until satiation occurs

type II functional response

a functional response in which a predator’s rate of prey consumption begins to slow down as prey density increases and then plateaus as satiation occurs

type III functional response

a functional response in which a predator exhibits low prey consumption under low prey densities, rapid consumption under moderate prey densities, and slowing prey consumption under high prey densities

search image

a learned mental image that helps the predator locate and capture food

numerical response

a change in the number of predators through population growth or population movement due to immigration or emigration

crypsis

camouflage that either allows an individual to match its environment or breaks up the outline of an individual to blend in better with the background environment

warning coloration/ aposematism

a strategy in which distastefulness evolves in association with very conspicuous colors and patterns

Batesian mimicry

when palatable species evolve warning coloration that resembles unpalatable species

Mullerian mimicry

when several unpalatable species evolve a similar pattern of warning coloration

coevolution

when two or more species affect each other’s evolution