24.3 predator-prey relationships

predators adaptations

• sudden bursts of speed

• stealth

• fast reactions

prey adaptations

• camouflage

• mimicry

• defence mechanisms such as spines

predator relationship graph

stages of predator prey relationships

stage 1 - an increase in the prey population provides more food for the predators, allowing more to survive and reproduce. This is turn results in an increase in the predator population

stage 2 - the increased predator population eats more prey organisms, causing a decline in the prey population. The death rate of the prey population is greater than its birth rate

stage 3 - the reduced prey population can no longer support the larger predator population. Intraspecific competition for food increases, resulting in a decrease in the size of the predator population

stage 4 - reduced predator numbers result in less of the prey population being killed. More prey organism survive and reproduce, increasing the prey population - the cycle begins again

(rarely in the wild is it as simple as this. It is also dependand on biotic factors and abiotic factors